Hydrogen shows similarity with alkali metals as well as halogens.

Question

Explain :

Hydrogen shows similarity with alkali metals as well as halogens.

Answer 1

• The electronic configuration of hydrogen is 1s¹ which is similar to the outer electronic configuration of alkali metals of group 1 i.e., ns¹.
• However, 1s¹ also resembles the outer electronic configuration of group 17 elements i.e., ns² np⁵.
• By adding one electron to H, it will attain the electronic configuration of the inert gas He which is 1s², and by adding one electron to ns² np⁵ we get ns² np⁶ which is the outer electronic configuration of the remaining inert gases.
• Therefore, some chemical properties of hydrogen are similar to those of alkali metals while some resemble halogens.

Hence,

Hydrogen shows similarity with alkali metals as well as halogens.