Two electron configuration:
Mg(Ne)3s^2
Zn(Ar)4s^2 3d^10
Using the configurations, explain the difference in relative reactivity of the 2 metals ( which are Mg and Zn)
To understand the difference in relative reactivity between magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) based on their electron configurations, let's analyze their respective configurations.
1. Magnesium (Mg): The electron configuration of Mg is [Ne]3s^2. This means that Mg has 12 electrons in total, with the first 10 electrons arranged in a stable noble gas configuration (Ne) and the remaining 2 electrons in the 3s orbital.
2. Zinc (Zn): The electron configuration of Zn is [Ar]4s^2 3d^10. This configuration indicates that Zn has 30 electrons. Similar to Mg, the first 18 electrons of Zn are arranged in the stable noble gas configuration (Ar). The remaining 12 electrons are distributed among the 4s and 3d orbitals.
Now, let's discuss the difference in reactivity between Mg and Zn based on their electron configurations:
Reactivity is primarily influenced by the tendency to lose or gain electrons, thus achieving a more stable electron configuration. In general, metals tend to lose electrons to form positive ions (cations). The ease of losing electrons is related to the distance between the valence electrons and the positively charged nucleus.
In the case of Mg, it has only two valence electrons in the 3s orbital, which are relatively far from the nucleus compared to the valence electrons of Zn. This makes it easier for Mg to lose these two electrons and form a stable Mg2+ cation.
On the other hand, Zn has 10 valence electrons in the 4s and 3d orbitals. These valence electrons are relatively closer to the nucleus compared to the valence electrons of Mg. The increased nuclear charge in Zn results in a stronger attraction for its valence electrons, making it more difficult for Zn to lose electrons and form Zn2+ cations.
Therefore, based on their electron configurations, the relative reactivity of Mg is higher than that of Zn. Mg tends to lose its valence electrons more readily, leading to greater reactivity compared to Zn.
To summarize, the difference in relative reactivity between Mg and Zn can be explained by the proximity of their valence electrons to the nucleus in their respective electron configurations.