what family is hydrogen in

1 year ago 52
Nature

Hydrogen is not technically an alkali metal, although it is placed at the top of Group 1A in most versions of the periodic table/Descriptive_Chemistry/Elements_Organized_by_Group/Group_01%3A_Hydrogen_and_the_Alkali_Metals). Hydrogen is a very special element of the periodic table and doesnt belong to any family. Although hydrogen has similarities with alkali metals and group 17 atoms, it is best positioned separately. Hydrogen is electropositive and tends to lose an electron to form a cation, similar to alkali metals. However, hydrogen has a half-filled orbital and needs one more electron to mimic noble gas Heliums stable electronic configuration, making it similar to group 17 elements. In terms of valence electrons and reactivity, it makes sense to place hydrogen in Group 1 because it has one valence electron and can form a +1 ion.