The elements 4Be, 12Mg and 20Ca, each having two valence electrons, in their valence shells, are in period 2, 3 and 4 respectively

The elements 4Be, 12Mg and 20Ca, each having two valence electrons, in their valence shells, are in period 2, 3 and 4 respectively of the modern periodic table. Answer the following questions associated with these elements, giving reason in each case:

  1. In which group should they be?
  2. Which one of them is least reactive?
  3. Which one of them has the largest atomic size?

1.All three elements have valency 2. Thus, they should be present in group 2 of the periodic table.

2.On going down, a group in the periodic table, the reactivity of an element increases because of decrease in the effective nuclear charge and increases in the atomic size; this makes the removal of valence electrons easy. Thus, among the given elements, 4Be is the least reactive element.

3.On going down, a group in the periodic table, the atomic size of elements increases because of the addition of new shells. Thus, among the given elements, 2QCa has the largest atomic size.