There is a demonstration in which solid pieces of five elements – which are known to be metals – were placed in water. The five metals were calcium, lithium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. The pieces of metal were similar in size, and were timed to find out how long it took each piece to completely react with water. Potassium was the fastest to completely react with water. Sodium was second fastest. Magnesium was the slowest, by far. Explain these results by answering the following questions: 1. What is the first step in the reactions of these metal atoms with water? 2. Among the periodic properties of elements (like atomic radius, ionization energy, electronegativity, etc.) … a. Which property most determines the speed of these reactions? b. Do values for this property increase or decrease as you go left to right across a period on the periodic table? What is it about the structures of atoms that causes this pattern? c. Do values for this property increase or decrease as you go down a family on the periodic table? What is it about the structures of atoms that causes this pattern? 3. So, when all is said and done, what is it about the structure of potassium atoms that make them react faster than the other metals in this demonstration?
There is a demonstration in which solid pieces of five elements – which are known
to be metals – were placed in water. The five metals were calcium, lithium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.
The pieces of metal were similar in size, and were timed to find out how long it took each piece to completely react with water.
Potassium was the fastest to completely react with water. Sodium was second fastest. Magnesium was the slowest, by far.
Explain these results by answering the following questions:
1. What is the first step in the reactions of these metal atoms with water?
2. Among the periodic properties of elements (like atomic radius, ionization energy, electronegativity, etc.) …
a. Which property most determines the
b. Do values for this property increase or decrease as you go left to right across a period on the periodic
table? What is it about the structures of atoms that causes this pattern?
c. Do values for this property increase or decrease as you go down a family on the periodic table? What is it
about the structures of atoms that causes this pattern?
3. So, when all is said and done, what is it about the structure of potassium atoms that make them react faster than
the other metals in this demonstration?
4. What is it about the structure of magnesium atoms that makes them react more slowly than sodium atoms? Why
do they react more slowly than calcium atoms?
5. Finally, why was this demonstration done with metals instead of nonmetals?
Correctly use each of the following vocabulary terms at least once. Pls underline,
highlight, or boldface each one the first time you use it: ionization energy, valence shell, valence electron(s), occupied
energy level(s), shielding, proton(s), period, and group or family
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