Group 1 Alkali Metals

• What are the group 1 elements known as?

  Alkali metals
• Which elements are included in the alkali metals?

  Lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, francium
• How do alkali metals differ from most other metals?

  They are soft with low densities and melting points
• What is the reactivity of alkali metals compared to other metals?

  They are much more reactive than other metals
• With which substances do alkali metals react vigorously?

  Water, oxygen, and group 7 elements
• What happens to the reactivity of alkali metals as you go down the group?

  They become more reactive
• Which alkali metal can ignite spontaneously at room temperature?

  Cesium
• What trend occurs with melting and boiling points as you go down the group of alkali metals?

  Melting and boiling points decrease
• Why doesn't common table salt catch fire when sprinkled on food?

  Sodium in salt is stable and not reactive
• Why are alkali metals so reactive?

  They have one electron in their outer shell
• What happens when alkali metals lose their outer electron?

  They become a one positive ion
• How does the atomic radius affect reactivity in alkali metals?

  Increased radius weakens the attractive force
• What does the term reactivity refer to?

  How easily atoms can lose or gain electrons
• What type of compounds do alkali metals typically form with non-metals?

  Ionic compounds
• What is the appearance of ionic compounds formed by alkali metals?

  Generally white solids
• How do ionic compounds behave in water?

  They tend to dissolve and form colorless solutions
• What do alkali metals produce when they react with water?

  A metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
• What is the reaction of sodium with water?

  Sodium plus water forms sodium hydroxide and hydrogen
• How does the energy released in reactions change as you go down the group?

  More energy is released in reactions
• What happens to hydrogen gas produced from potassium's reaction with water?

  It ignites due to energy release
• What do alkali metals form when they react with chlorine gas?

  White metal chloride salts
• What is the reaction of sodium with chlorine gas?

  Sodium plus chlorine forms sodium chloride
• What do alkali metals form when they react with oxygen?

  Metal oxides
• What type of oxide does lithium form when reacting with oxygen?

  Lithium oxide
• What type of oxide does sodium form when reacting with oxygen?

  Sodium oxide
• What can sodium and oxygen also react to form?

  Sodium peroxide
• What can potassium react with oxygen to form?

  Potassium peroxide or potassium superoxide
• What are the key reactions of alkali metals with water, chlorine, and oxygen?

  • Water: Produces metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
  • Chlorine: Forms white metal chloride salts
  • Oxygen: Forms metal oxides
• What are the properties of alkali metals?

  • Soft
  • Low density
  • Low melting points
  • Highly reactive
• What trends occur in alkali metals as you go down the group?

  • Increased reactivity
  • Decreased melting and boiling points
• How do alkali metals typically form ionic compounds?

  • Metal atom donates an electron to a non-metal
  • Both achieve full outer shells
  • Form oppositely charged ions attracted by ionic bonds