Question

The most reactive metal is:
  A.P
  B.Q
  C.U
  D.None of these

Answer 1

Hint – Here we will proceed by using the concept of reactive metal. Then by looking at the electrons shells of each and every given chemical element we will get our answer.
Reactive metal- It is a group of metal elements that can form a reaction with either water, acids, mineral acids and other powerful oxidizing acids.

Complete answer:

P is Phosphorus- Phosphorus is a non-metal that sits just below nitrogen in group 15 of the periodic table. It is classified as non-metal. Phosphorus atoms have 15 electrons and 15 protons with 5 valence electrons in the outer shell. Phosphorus is a highly reactive element and, as a result, is never found on Earth as a free element.
S is Sulphur is a non- metal with symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent, and non-metallic. It has 16 electrons, 16 neutrons and 16 protons. Under normal conditions, sulphur atoms from cyclic octatomic molecules. Element sulphur is a bright yellow, crystalline solid at a room temperature.
U is Uranium, a chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92. It is a silver-grey metal in the actinide series of the periodic table. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons. Uranium is a dense, silvery-grey white, slightly paramagnetic, radioactive metal. The metal tarnishes in air acquiring a dark layer of oxide.
An element’s reactivity is based on how many electron shells it has. The more electron shells, the less magnetic attraction to the nucleus the electrons on the outer shells have. Therefore, they can easily travel to other chemically attractive atoms (chemically attractive meaning that their outer electron shells are incomplete and only need one or two more or less to be complete).
In a nutshell, we can say that the Uranium is the most reactive metal in the list of given metals as well as non-metals. Uranium atoms have 92 electrons while Phosphorus and Sulphur are non-metals.

Note – Whenever we come up with this type of question, one must know that the reactivity series of metals, also known as the activity series, refers to the arrangement of metals in the descending order of their reactivity. Looking at the data provided by reactivity series one can find out the most reactive or less reactive element. Also, by reactivity series we can solve questions related to metals or nonmetals.