Question #677b8

1 Answer
anor277
Oct 31, 2016

Calcium is not more reactive than sodium.

Explanation:

Calcium is an #"alkaline earth"#; it comes from Group 2 of the Periodic Table.

Sodium is a Group 1 alkali metal, which are very reactive species. The question should have compared the reactivity of sodium towards potassium. Potassium, #Z=19#, is much more reactive than sodium metal, #Z=11#. The valence electron of potassium is much further removed from the nuclear core, with the result that potassium metal is a much better reductant. The difference in reactivity between the two metals reflect this.

Related questions
See all questions in Metal Activity Series
Impact of this question
4013 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License