Lithium Vs Sodium

Despite that they have the same no. of outermost electron (1 in the outermost electron shell), their no. of electron shells are different (Li:2;Na:3). Electrons are attracted by the protons. The attraction force becomes smaller and smaller for the electrons more and more far away. Since distance between proton and outermost electrons of Na is longer than that of Li, electrons of Na lose from the atoms more easily, and thus are more reactive.

because sodium is group 1 element due to the electronic arrangment 2,8,1,but lithium is group 2 element due to the electronic arrangment 2and it is duplet so lithium is very unreactive.also,group 1 element is more reactive then group two element.so sodium is more reactive than lithium

2006-11-11 10:50:58 補充：
sorry.i type worng.group 1 element increasing as we move down the froup

because sodium have one energy level more than lithium this cause it to be more reactive as the outer most electrons were further away from the nucleus , therefore attraction force that holds the electrons together to the nucleus were relatively smaller cause sodium easier to lose its electrons in a reaction thus make it more reactive than lilthium