What is the relationship between electron configuration and reactivity?

What is the relationship between electron configuration and reactivity?

The electron configuration of an atom determines how it interacts with other atoms, influencing its reactivity. Elements with similar configurations often exhibit similar chemical behaviors.

Can you give an example of how this works?

Sure! For instance, alkali metals like sodium and potassium have a single electron in their outer shell, making them highly reactive as they easily lose that electron to achieve a stable configuration.

What about noble gases? Are they reactive?

Noble gases have full outer electron shells, which makes them very stable and largely unreactive. They rarely form compounds because they don't need to gain or lose electrons.

How does this relate to periodic trends?

Periodic trends, such as electronegativity and ionization energy, are closely linked to electron configuration. As you move across a period, elements become more reactive due to changes in their electron configurations.