Question

Why is the reducing power is alkali metals is greater than alkaline earth metals?

Answer 1

Alkaline earth metals need to lose 2 electrons to attain the nearest noble gas configuration whereas alkali metals need to lose only one electron to do the same. It us easy to lose one electron and thus the tendency to lose that one electron is more so reducing power is more in alkali metals.

Answer 2

The alkaline earth metals are weakerreducing agents than the alkali metals. Like alkali metals, theirreducing character also increases down the group. This is due to the reason that the alkaline earth metalshave greater tendency to lose electrons so, they act as reducingagent but since their I.E.