Which of the following is the most reactive metal?

Options

A. K
B. Zn
C. Ni
D. Ag

Answer

To determine which of the following metals is the most reactive: potassium (K), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), or silver (Ag), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the type of metals
- Potassium (K) is an alkali metal and belongs to the S block of the periodic table.
- Zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and silver (Ag) are transition metals and belong to the D block of the periodic table.

**Hint:** Remember that alkali metals (S block) are generally more reactive than transition metals (D block).

### Step 2: Understand the reactivity trend
- Alkali metals are known for their high reactivity, especially with water and halogens.
- Among the D block metals, reactivity varies but is generally lower than that of alkali metals.

**Hint:** Consider the general trends in reactivity for different groups in the periodic table.

### Step 3: Compare the reactivity of the given metals
- Potassium (K) is the most reactive among all the metals listed due to its position in Group 1 of the periodic table.
- Zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and silver (Ag) are less reactive than potassium. In fact, silver is known to be the least reactive among these metals.

**Hint:** Recall that the reactivity of metals decreases from left to right across a period and increases down a group.

### Step 4: Conclusion
Based on the above analysis, potassium (K) is the most reactive metal among the options provided.

**Final Answer:** The most reactive metal is **potassium (K)**.