The chemical reactivity of an element is determined by which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The chemical reactivity of an element is determined by the number of valence electrons in an atom of the element. Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom and are involved in chemical bonding. The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number and its identity, but not necessarily its reactivity. The number of neutrons in an atom affects its stability and radioactivity, but not its chemical reactivity. The number of protons and neutrons together determine the atomic mass of an element.

The Chemical Reactivity of an Element Is Determined by Which