Sodium comes after potassium in the reactivity series, so sodium is _____________

Options

A. not reactive
B. more reactive than potassium
C. equally reactive as potassium
D. less reactive than potassium

Answer

To solve the question, "Sodium comes after potassium in the reactivity series, so sodium is _____________", we will analyze the information provided step by step.

### Step 1: Understanding the Reactivity Series
The reactivity series is a list of metals arranged in order of decreasing reactivity. Metals that are higher in the series are more reactive than those that are lower.

**Hint:** Remember that in the reactivity series, the position of an element indicates its reactivity compared to others.

### Step 2: Identifying the Position of Sodium and Potassium
In the reactivity series, potassium (K) is placed above sodium (Na). This indicates that potassium is more reactive than sodium.

**Hint:** Look at the positions of the elements in the reactivity series to determine their relative reactivity.

### Step 3: Analyzing the Properties of Alkali Metals
Both sodium and potassium belong to the alkali metals group (Group 1 of the periodic table). They have one valence electron, which makes them highly reactive. However, the reactivity increases as you move down the group.

**Hint:** Recall that alkali metals have one electron in their outermost shell, which they readily lose to become stable.

### Step 4: Comparing the Reactivity of Sodium and Potassium
Potassium has a larger atomic radius than sodium because it has more electron shells. This means that the outermost electron in potassium is further from the nucleus and is held less tightly, making it easier for potassium to lose that electron compared to sodium.

**Hint:** Consider how atomic size and distance from the nucleus affect the ability of an atom to lose its outermost electron.

### Step 5: Conclusion
Since potassium is more reactive than sodium, we can conclude that sodium is less reactive than potassium. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: "Sodium is less reactive than potassium."

### Final Answer
Sodium is **less reactive than potassium**.

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