Which family on the periodic table is the most reactive?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 28, 2017

Which family, which Group?

Explanation:

I would have to say the halogens. Fluorine, in particular, is the most oxidizing species on the Periodic Table; and will even oxidize oxygen up to #O^(2+)#:

#F_2(g) + 1/2O_2(g) rarr OF_2(g)#

If you meet a fluorine chemist, he (or more rarely she) is likely to have an eye or finger missing. As a graduate student, I used to shy away from the main group inorganic chemists coming down the hall with a dewar. They were likely to be holding something rather nasty.

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