Javier's teacher gives him four cards, each displaying information about an element, and asks him to put them in order of reactivity. The elements are carbon (C), helium (He), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K). Javier arranges the elements in order from most reactive to least reactive, as shown in the diagram.
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Is Javier's arrangement correct? Why or why not?
I have no idea how Javier arranged them.
From most reactive to least reactive is as follows:
K
Mg
C
He
To determine whether Javier's arrangement is correct or not, we need to understand the reactivity of these elements.
Reactivity is a measure of how likely an element is to undergo a chemical reaction. There are various factors that can affect the reactivity of an element, such as its electron configuration and the ease with which it can gain or lose electrons.
In this case, let's analyze the reactivity of the given elements:
1. Carbon (C): Carbon is a nonmetal element that typically forms covalent bonds. It does not easily gain or lose electrons, so it is considered relatively unreactive.
2. Helium (He): Helium is a noble gas and is known for its extremely low reactivity. It has a stable electron configuration and does not readily form compounds with other elements.
3. Magnesium (Mg): Magnesium is a metal element and is more reactive than both carbon and helium. It readily loses two electrons to form a stable 2+ cation, which makes it reactive in certain chemical reactions.
4. Potassium (K): Potassium is an alkali metal and is known for its high reactivity. It readily loses one electron to form a stable 1+ cation, making it more reactive than magnesium, helium, and carbon.
Based on this analysis, Javier's arrangement should be as follows:
He (helium) - least reactive
C (carbon)
Mg (magnesium)
K (potassium) - most reactive
So, from least reactive to most reactive, the correct order is helium, carbon, magnesium, and potassium. If Javier's arrangement matches this order, then it is correct. Otherwise, it is incorrect.
Without being able to see the diagram mentioned in your question, I am unable to verify Javier's arrangement, but you can compare it with the correct order mentioned above to determine whether or not it is correct.