Question

Atoms of the most reactive elements tend to have?

Answer 1

A valence shell of electrons that is ALMOST complete.......

Explanation:

Fluorine and oxygen are the most reactive elements of the Periodic Table, i.e. this is another way of saying that they are the most reactive of ALL ELEMENTS. Are you with me?

The electronic structure of atomic oxygen, or atomic fluorine specifies `6` or `7` valence electrons respectively......reduction to give `8` valence electrons, which is energetically stable, should be, and indeed is facile and easily accomplished, and thus these elements are highly (sometimes dangerously) oxidizing. That these elements occur as binuclear gases under standard conditions, inherently more reactive species than condensed phases, tends to magnify their reactivity.