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Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal and has two electrons in its valence shell that are easily given off to reactive species such as oxygen. Copper, however, has a different electron configuration. If you are familiar with orbitals, copper has a filled 3d orbital, which is the highest energy orbital. The unfilled orbital, 4s, is actually lower energy and will not be lost as easily since that would make the 3d orbital unfilled since one or two of those 3d electrons have to go down to fill the 4s orbital (thus Copper forms 1+ and 2+ ions). If I've completely lost you, the take-home message is that copper's reactive electron is not on its highest energy orbital and its highest energy orbital is filled. In contrast, the highest energy orbital is Magnesium is the same as its valence shell.

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15y ago
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5mo ago

Yes, magnesium is more reactive than carbon. Magnesium readily reacts with many chemicals and elements, including oxygen and water, forming compounds like magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide. Carbon is less reactive and tends to form fewer compounds compared to magnesium.

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5mo ago

Yes, magnesium is more reactive than carbon. Magnesium readily reacts with many chemicals and elements, including oxygen and water, forming compounds like magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide. Carbon is less reactive and tends to form fewer compounds compared to magnesium.

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11y ago

Magnesium has two valence electrons. If these two valence electrons are lost, then magnesium attains the nearest noble gas configuration.

Carbon has to lose four valence electrons to attain noble gas configuration. It is easier to lose two electrons than four and hence magnesium is more reactive than carbon.

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15y ago

Yes, magnesium is more reactive than copper.

Below is a link to an experiment proving so.

http://www.sci-journal.org/reports/vol3no1/v3n1k41.html

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14y ago

Yes because magnesium is less electronegative than zinc, and therefore, will give up its valence electrons for reaction

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14y ago

No, Potassium is more reactive than magnesium.

As a general rule, the alkali metals, those in the far left column of the Periodic Table, are the most reactive of all the metals.

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14y ago

Yes, a lot more reactive. This is why gold is used in jewellery. Because it won't rust or tarnish.

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12y ago

Magnesium is more reactive.

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Q: Is magnesium more reactive than carbon?
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What element would be more reactive than magnesium?

Magnesium is more reactive than copper because if you study the periodic table, you will be able to find out that Magnesium is more reactive.Also, coins are made out of copper, they choose copper because it is cheap and extremely unreactive.Furthermore, I've done an experiment to find out that Magnesium is more reactive than Copper by putting both elements into Water/Acid.


Sodium is more or less active than magnesium?

Sodium is less active than magnesium. Magnesium is located higher in the reactivity series of metals than sodium, indicating that magnesium is more reactive and likely to form compounds with other elements compared to sodium.


Is carbon 12 more reactive than carbon 14?

No, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are both forms of carbon with the same chemical properties. Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons, while carbon-14 has 8 neutrons, which makes it radioactive but doesn't affect its reactivity.


How could you prove that magnesium is a more reactive metal than zinc or iron?

One way to prove that magnesium is more reactive than zinc or iron is to observe their reaction with water or acids. Magnesium will react more vigorously with water or acids, producing more rapid and noticeable results compared to zinc or iron. Another method is to compare their placement in the reactivity series, where magnesium is positioned higher than zinc and iron, indicating higher reactivity.


Which is more reactive fluorine or nitrogen?

Fluorine is more reactive than nitrogen. Fluorine is the most electronegative element on the periodic table, making it highly reactive and capable of forming strong chemical bonds. Nitrogen is also reactive, but fluorine is considerably more so.

Related questions

Why isn't carbon present in magnesium?

carbon is more reactive than magnesium


Is magnesium more reactive than sodium?

sodium is more reactive than magnesium!


Is Sodium is more reactive than magnesium.?

sodium is more reactive than magnesium!


Is silver more reactive then magnesium?

No, magnesium is more reactive than silver. Magnesium reacts readily with oxygen to form magnesium oxide, whereas silver is relatively unreactive.


Is iron more reactive than magnesium?

No, magnesium is more reactive than iron. Magnesium reacts more readily with oxygen and water compared to iron, forming magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide respectively.


Is uranium more reactive than magnesium explain?

Uranium is not more reactive than magnesium. Magnesium is more reactive than uranium. Magnesium reacts with water to form magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas, while uranium is relatively stable and does not react as readily with water.


What element is more reactive than lithium and magnesium but less ractive than pottassium?

Sodium is more reactive than lithium and magnesium but less reactive than potassium.


Is iron or magnesium more reactive?

Magnesium is more reactive than iron. Magnesium reacts more readily with oxygen and water to form compounds like magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide compared to iron.


What element is most reactive sodium magnesium or iron?

Sodium is more reactive than either magnesium or iron.


Is magnesium more reactive than lithium?

No, lithium is more reactive than magnesium because it has a higher tendency to lose electrons. Magnesium reacts slowly with water, whereas lithium reacts vigorously with water, producing hydrogen gas.


Is lead more reactive than magnesium?

No, magnesium is more reactive than lead. Magnesium is a Group 2 metal, which is more reactive than lead, a Group 14 metal. Magnesium reacts readily with oxygen to form a protective oxide layer, whereas lead is more resistant to reaction with air or water.


Is Carbon more reactive than Phosphorus or vice versa?

carbon is more reactive