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.

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