Questions

When atoms react they do so in order to reach the lowest energy, which is the most stable. The electrons orbitals will overlap in the way that reduces the energy the most. Orbitals of similar energy will produce the greatest stabilisation.The answer you gave isn't the whole story, it depends what species is reacting with what. The effective nuclear charge on the atom will affect the energy of the valance electrons.

Hence, the reactivity of an atom arises from the existence of unpaired electrons in the valence shell.

Lightning is extremely hot — a flash can heat the air around it to temperatures five times hotter than the sun’s surface. This heat causes surrounding air to rapidly expand and vibrate, which creates the pealing thunder we hear a short time after seeing a lightning flash.

Lightning heats the surrounding air to about 30,000 degrees Centigrades.