Chemistry

>

GCSE

The Periodic Table

Question

Which element is the most reactive?

2 years ago

·

45 Replies

·

26839 views

H

Hershel Skiles


45 Answers

Dr Lavan G Profile Picture
Dr Lavan G Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

Chemistry PhD (UCL) Tutor with 8+ Years of Teaching Experience

5 reviews

Fluorine (F) is identified to be the most reactive element in the periodic table. It's need to gain an electron to form a a full outer shell (2,8) gives rise to it being the most reactive.

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
Mia Profile Picture
Mia Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

Tutor helping students

1 reviews

The most reactive metal is Francium (Fr) and the most reactive non-metal is fluorine (F).


Fluorine is the most reactive element in the periodic table, as it is very electronegative and it is reactive as it needs to gain an electron to complete the outer shell.

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
Felix E Profile Picture
Felix E Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

I'm a PhD student in Neuropharmacology and Toxicology.

The most reactive element is fluorine. It can react with almost everything instantly

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
Oluwatobi Profile Picture
Oluwatobi Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

I'm a medical student with a passion for teaching science

This is hard to answer because it depends on whether we are discussing a non-metal or metal. There are different trends in reactivity for metals and non-metals and often these trends are opposite. For example, an element lower down in group 1, like caesium, will be more reactive than an element higher up in group one, like potassium. This is because group 1 elements are metals, therefore, are trying to lose an outer electron to react. The further out the outer electron is due to more levels of shielding observed as we go down group 1, which causes an outer electron to be removed from caesium easier than an outer electron is removed from potassium. This is the opposite for group 7 (halogens) which are non-metals. They want to gain an electron to complete their outer shell as they normally have 7 out of 8 electrons on their outer shell. Therefore to react, the ideal scenario is to have minimal shielding so other electrons are closer and more easily attracted to the nucleus. For this reason, elements higher in group 7, such as chlorine, are more reactive than elements lower in group 7, such as iodine.

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
F
Fayyad Uddin

Fluorine is the most reactive element due to its high electronegativity

Gareth G Profile Picture
Gareth G Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

Experienced Teacher/Tutor- Biology/Chemistry/Physics.

5 reviews

Top of group 7 (The halogens) are very reactive (e.g Fluorine). If you are looking at metals, the Group 1 Alkali metals are very reactive. As you move down the group them react more violently with water for example. (e.g. Rubidium, Caesium, Francium).

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
R
Rabiah Bhutta

The most reactive element is Caesium. This is because it has many electron shells and only one electron in its outer shell, meaning the electrostatic forces of attraction between positively charged protons and the negatively charged electron is weak, so the electron is given up the easiest, meaning it is the most reactive.

M
Mariam Chaudry

Fluorine is the most reactive element in the periodic tbale

M
Michelle

Flourine- fluorine is the most reactive non metal

S Profile Picture
S Verified Sherpa Tutor ✓

15 years teaching experience

The group 1 elements are the most reactive going in down the column from least to most

I'm available for 1:1 private online tuition!

Click here to view my profile and arrange a free introduction.
P
Pooja Pithadia

potassium is the most reactive element

L
Laura Alfs

Caesium (Cs) - a group 1 alkalki metal. All alkali metals are reactive, increasing as you go down the periodic table.

J
Jas Sull

Francium is most reactive element in periodic table.

S
Safaa Kadiri

fluorine is the most reactive.

Z
Zabreen Iqbal

fluorine is the most reactive element

Think you can help?

More Chemistry GCSE Questions
Sherpa Badge

Need a GCSE Chemistry tutor?

Get started with a free online introductions with an experienced and qualified online tutor on Sherpa.

Find a GCSE Chemistry Tutor