MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: Why is Flourine the most reactive non-metal?

Date: Fri Jan 12 12:49:54 2001
Posted By: Kevin Wright, Secondary School Teacher, Head of Science, Chemistry graduate., Mary Hare School for the Deaf
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 979284594.Ch
Message:

Thank you for your question. You probably understand that non-metals react by gaining electrons. Fluorine is the most attractive element for electrons for two reasons:

  1. It is at the right hand end of its row of the Periodic Table, which means it has the biggest nucleus and more protons than any element in that row. Protons are positive and attract electrons, which are negative. It is the most attractive and therefore most reactive non-metal element in its row.
  2. If you go down a group of the table, each element has more “shells of electrons”; these “shells” shield the attractiveness of the protons in the nucleus for the electrons on the outside. At the top of its group, therefore fluorine has very few shells (only one full) and the nucleus is not shielded from the electrons. It is the most attractive and therefore most reactive element in its group.
Hope that explains it clearly,

Kevin


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