sodium and magnesium are both in period 3 of the periodic table. which reacts most vigorously with and explain why
Sodium reacts more vigorously with water than magnesium.
Sodium is a highly reactive metal because it has only one electron in its outermost shell, which it tends to lose in order to achieve a stable electron configuration. When sodium is placed in water, it quickly reacts with the water molecules to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. This reaction is exothermic and produces a lot of heat, often leading to the formation of a sodium hydroxide solution (which is a strong base) and hydrogen gas bubbles.
On the other hand, magnesium is also a reactive metal but it reacts less vigorously with water compared to sodium. Magnesium has two electrons in its outermost shell, which it tends to lose in order to achieve a stable electron configuration. When magnesium is placed in water, it reacts to form magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. However, the reaction is slower and less vigorous compared to sodium, as magnesium is not as likely to lose its electrons as quickly as sodium.
Overall, sodium reacts more vigorously with water than magnesium due to its higher reactivity and tendency to lose electrons more easily.