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Lithium, Sodium, Potassium

Lately, we've been doing experiments on chemical reaction. It wasn't that hard for us to answer some of the questions. But after doing the experiments on lithium, sodium and potassium; one question made me thinking for a really long time.
Lithium, Sodium, Potassium

I actually tried a new kind of video this time. Hope you guys like it. Yes, it kinda "dramatic" but it also spices things up a little bit. :D. Back to my question earlier: why does potassium is the most reactive, why not sodium and lithium?

This is my explanation:



 

But if you are too tired or lazy to wait for the loading video, I can explain it to you.

As you've known before, every element is made from protons, neutrons and electrons.One or more protons are present in the nucleus of each atom. Each proton has a positive electric charge. Electron, instead, has a negative electric charge.

  As you can see in the picture. Lithium has only three electrons. That will make the attraction between protons and electrons easier. Therefore, they are very connected.-> In the reaction with water, the reaction removes one electron from the atom. Since the electrons are tightly bound with the proton, it is harder to remove the electron.

 

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Sodium, on the oppositte, has bigger atomic number ( has more protons in the nucleus of an atom). The sodium atom is bigger than the lithium atom so the protons are not strongly connected with the electrons. The electrons in the third layer or the outside electrons can be easily removed.

The same situation as potassium. It depends on the size of the atoms. The bigger the atom, the more reactive it is ( the easier it is to remove the electron).

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoy it. Good luck with classwork.

 

Best regards,

Nam Phuong

 

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