The elements at the bottom of groups 1A, 2A, 6A, 7A, and 8A - Fr, Ra, Po, At, an

Question

The elements at the bottom of groups 1A, 2A, 6A, 7A, and 8A - Fr, Ra, Po, At, and Rn - are all radioactive. As a result, much less is known about their physical and chemical properties than those of the elements above them. Based on what we have learned in this chapter, which of these five elements would you expect to have each of the following characteristics?

(a) to have the most metallic character

(b) to have the least metallic (that is, the most nonmetallic) character

(c) to have the largest first ionization energy

(d) to have the smallest first ionization energy

(e) to have the greatest (most negative) electron affinity

(f) to have the largest atomic radius

(g) to resemble least in appearance the element immediately above it

(h) to have the highest melting point

(i) to react most exothermically with water

Explanation / Answer

a) Ra (Radium is more metallic mainly because Radium is more harder and has a higher melting point than Francium)

b) Rn (It is a noble gas because it's orbitals are completely filled)

c) Rn (Since its outer shell is complete. it would have the highest I.E.)

d) Fr (Since its outer shell has only 1 e, it would have the lowest I.E. to achieve a complete outer shell)

e) At (Since it needs 1 electron to achieve a complete outer shell it will have the greatest Electron Affinity)

f) Fr (Being an Alkali Metal, its single e in the outermost shell is mostly shielded from the nucleus by the complete inner electrons, it would have the largest ring)

g) Po (It is a metal which Te abov it is a metalloid, and in case of At its natural form hasn't been studied properly because of the rarity by which it occurs. It is suspected to sublime which matches the property of Iodine above it)

h) Ra (Being an alkaline earth metal it is harder and has a higher m.p. than Fr)

i) Fr (with the solo e available in its outermost shell, its most reactive element among the list and hence would react most exothermically with water)

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