Chapter 21, Problem 6STP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The metal that will more easily lose an electron needs to be identified from sodium and potassium.

Concept Introduction: In an electrolytic cell, oxidation takes place at the anode and reduction takes place at the cathode. In oxidation, electrons are released and in reduction, electrons are added to the reactant. The oxidation state of the reactant increases during oxidation and decreases during reduction.

Explanation of Solution

If metal loses electron/s, oxidation takes place. If the activity series of metals is examined taking hydrogen as a reference, the metals above hydrogen can easily get oxidized and metals below hydrogen can easily get reduced (as they have more reduction potential value).

On moving top to bottom in the activity series, the reduction electrode potential increases thus, metals can easily get reduced.

On comparing sodium and potassium, sodium is placed below potassium thus, it has more reduction electrode potential and it more easily gets reduced. Since the loss of electron/s takes place in oxidation, potassium more easily loses an electron.