[mousse91]

So, at the moment, I am doing chemistry coursework at school, and I am on the last question, but I can't find any information anywhere, only on wikianswers and yahoo answers, but we aren't allowed to use these sites. Please can somebody help me. Thanks in advance.

The question is:

How can the Boer model of atomic structure be used to explain the reactivity of the alkali metals?

[jaeka]

Coursework. :( I feel for you. My pain is all over in June... roll on June... XD

Erm, I do higher tier science, so I'm gonna take a shot at this. Don't know what a boer model is, but I can imagine it's the same concept of neutrons, protons in the nucleus and electrons on the shell outside? Well, Alkali's are in group 1, so I think they have 1 electron on the outer shell? Which means they'll take another electron easily. So, all in all,

The Boer Model can be used to desribe the reactivity of the alkali metals because it shows how many electrons there is, which can represent the reactivity of the group 1 metals/alkali metals.

I'm such a science geek. Hope I helped. XD

Edit: If you need express more than that you can say the second shell of an atom is capable of taking 8 electrons and so a group 1 metal with just one 1 electron on the outside would happily take more electrons... deeming it more reactive as it can join with other chemicals more easily. You can also mention that group 1 metals get more reactive as you go down the group, but that's with water. ^__^


Haha, I hope I got all that right!! XDD

[mousse91]

sounds good, thanks! i hate coursework!

[Xingda]

alkali metals are the ones in the first column of the periodic table and only have one valence electron so they REALLY want to get rid of it to become a noble gas