Chapter 17, Problem 3TC

To determine

The ranking of the elements cesium (Cs) with atomic number⁵⁵ , silver (Ag) with atomic number⁴⁷ and oxygen (O) with atomic number⁸ , according to the difficulty of losing an electron

Answer to Problem 3TC

The ranking of the elements cesium (Cs) with atomic number⁵⁵ , silver (Ag) with atomic number⁴⁷ and oxygen (O) with atomic number⁸ , according to the difficulty of losing an electron is:

$\text{Cs >Ag > O}$

Explanation of Solution

In the periodic table, elements present to the lower left have weak hold onto the electrons, so they lose their electron easily as compared to the elements present to the upper right which have strong hold onto the electrons, so they do not lose electrons easily.

As cesium element is present at the lower left in the periodic table, so it loses electron easily. Silver element is transition metal present in the middle of the periodic table so it loses electron less easily than the cesium element. Oxygen element is present at the upper right of the periodic table having strong hold on to the electrons, so it loses electron with difficulty.

So the rank of the elements according to how difficult it is for them to lose electron is:

$\text{Cs >Ag > O}$

Conclusion:

Therefore, the rank of the elements is:

$\text{Cs >Ag > O}$