Characteristics of Elements
- Mar 8, 2016
- 1 min read
Alkali Metals The alkali metals, found in group 1 of the periodic table are very reactive metals. Therefore, they are ready to lose that one electron in ionic bonding with other elements. The alkali metals are malleable, ductile, and are good conductors of heat and electricity. They are softer than most other metals. Cesium and francium are the most reactive elements in this group.
Alkaline Earth Metals The alkaline earth elements are metallic elements found in the second group of the periodic table. All alkaline earth elements have an oxidation number of +2, making them very reactive. These elements tend to lose two electrons.
Halogens The halogens are five non-metallic elements found in group 17 of the periodic table. All halogens have 7 electrons in their outer shells, giving them an oxidation number of -1.
Noble Gases The six noble gases are found in group 18 of the periodic table. All noble gases have the maximum number of electrons possible in their outer shell (2 for Helium, 8 for all others), making them stable. These elements are very unreactive.
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