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Chapter 36: Problem 11

Helium and lithium exhibit very different chemical behavior, yet they differ by only one unit of nuclear charge. Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Even though helium and lithium only differ by one unit of nuclear charge, their chemical behaviors vary significantly due to the difference in their electron configurations. Helium, with a fully filled energy level, is inert whereas lithium, with one electron in its outer energy level, is highly reactive.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Atomic Structures of Helium and Lithium

To begin with, let's identify the atomic structures of the two elements. Helium has an atomic number of 2, which means it has two protons in its nucleus and two electrons. Its electron configuration is \(1s^2\), thus it has a completely filled energy level. Lithium, on the other hand, has an atomic number of 3 with three protons in its nucleus and three electrons. Its electron configuration is \(1s^2 2s^1\), meaning it has one electron in its outermost energy level, while the two other electrons are in the first energy level.
02

Understand the Chemical Behavior of Helium and Lithium

Chemical behavior of an element is largely determined by its valence electrons, the electrons in the outermost energy level. Helium, having a completely filled energy level, is very stable and does not readily react with other elements, thus exhibiting inert behavior. Lithium, on the contrary, has one electron in its outer energy level. This makes it highly reactive, as it tends to lose this electron to achieve a stable, filled energy level configuration like helium's.
03

Conclusion

Despite both helium and lithium having a similar nuclear charge, their chemical behaviors drastically differ. This is due to the electron configuration in their outermost energy levels, which influence an element's reactivity. Helium is inert due to its fully filled energy level, while lithium is highly reactive aiming to achieve a stable electron configuration by losing its single electron in the outer energy level.

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