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Trend in Reactivity

Edexcel AS-level ChemistryGroup 7Lesson 4 of 14

Reactivity decreases down the group. Because of their high electronegativities they are oxidising agents and are able to gain electrons to form negative ions.

Reactivity decreases for the same reason electronegativity decreases:

•nuclear charge - the bigger the nuclear charge the higher the electronegativity

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Key terms in this lesson

oxidising agent
A substance that accepts electrons from another species, causing it to be oxidised, while it is itself reduced.
electronegativity
The ability of a bonded atom to attract the shared pair of electrons in a covalent bond towards itself.

More in Group 7

All 14 lessons in Group 7 · All Edexcel AS-level Chemistry topics