Question

which element is the most reactive?
○ sodium
○ nickel
○ carbon
○ oxygen

Explanation:

To determine the most reactive element, we analyze the reactivity of each option:

• Sodium (\(Na\)) is an alkali metal (Group 1). Alkali metals are highly reactive due to having one valence electron that is easily lost, making them very reactive, especially with water and oxygen.
• Nickel (\(Ni\)) is a transition metal. Transition metals are generally less reactive than alkali metals. Nickel is relatively stable and is often used in alloys and as a catalyst, indicating lower reactivity compared to sodium.
• Carbon (\(C\)) is a non - metal. Carbon has a relatively stable electron configuration in its elemental form (like graphite or diamond) and is not as reactive as sodium. It forms covalent bonds and its reactivity is more related to forming compounds like hydrocarbons, but not as highly reactive as sodium.
• Oxygen (\(O\)) is a non - metal. While oxygen is reactive (it supports combustion, for example), its reactivity is different from that of sodium. Sodium is a metal that readily loses its electron, while oxygen is a non - metal that gains electrons. Among these four, sodium is more reactive as it is an alkali metal with a strong tendency to lose its single valence electron.

Answer:

A. sodium