NOVA | What Makes An Element Reactive? - PBS

Here are some of the main ideas students should take away from this video:

  • The location of electrons in an atom can be described as concentric shells around the nucleus of the atom.
  • The number of electrons in the outermost shell of an atom determines its reactivity.
  • Noble gases have low reactivity because they have full electron shells.
  • Halogens are highly reactive because they readily gain an electron to fill their outermost shell.
  • Alkali metals are highly reactive because they readily lose the single electron in their outermost shell.

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