Which of these metals loses electrons most readily?

Question

A. Calcium
B. Magnesium
C. Cesium
D. Sodium

Answer 1

Cesium. Reason: the tendency to lose electrons increases as you go left and as you go down the periodic table.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, the higher the Z of an atom (atomic number) the further the electrons will reside from the nucleus. The electronic force holding the electrons to the nucleus will decrease as a squared function of the distance from the nucleus. Additionally the number of other electrons surrounding the nucleus will repel each other, meaning the more electrons, the less force on the ionizing electron.

Lastly, the orbital shells prefer (lower energy thing) to be full, empty, or half full.

That said the first ionization energies for these metals are:

Cs = 375 KJ/mol
Na = 496 KJ/mol
Ca = 590 KJ/mol
Mg = 738 kJ/mol

So, Cs will the the most readily to ionize due to the lowest ionization energy

Answer 3

Cesium

There are more electronic shells in the Cesium atom than the others, thus providing a shielding effect against the positive charges of the nuclei. Thus the electrostatic force of attraction betweent he nuclei and the outer shell electrons are less, and lose electron more readily.

Answer 4

cesium