Answer: The atoms lose their electrons more easily.
Notes: The valency of an element is determined by the number of valence electrons present in the outermost shell of its atom. As the atomic number increases from left to right in a period, therefore valence electrons also increases. The atomic radius decreases in moving from left to right along a period. This is due to an increase in nuclear charge which tends to pull the electrons closer to the nucleus and reduces the size of the atom. Therefore it become difficult to lose electrons. Hence metallic character decreases across a period. Non-metals are found on the right-hand side of the Periodic Table towards the top. These trends also help us to predict the nature of oxides formed by the elements because it is known to you that the oxides of metals are basic and that of non-metals are acidic in general.
