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
• What do alkali metals react vigorously with?

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

  They become more reactive
• Why do alkali metals become more reactive down the group?

  The outermost electron is further from the nucleus
• What charge do alkali metals become when they lose their outer electron?

  One positive ion
• What is the relationship between reactivity and electron loss in alkali metals?

  Reactivity relates to how easily they lose electrons
• What type of compounds do alkali metals typically form with non-metals?

  Ionic compounds
• What do ionic compounds generally look like?

  White solids that dissolve in water
• 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 alkali metal reactions change down the group?

  It increases as you go down the group
• What do alkali metals form when they react with chlorine gas?

  White metal chloride salts
• What is the product of sodium reacting with chlorine?

  Sodium chloride
• What do alkali metals form when they react with oxygen?

  Metal oxides
• What is the oxide formed when lithium reacts with oxygen?

  Lithium oxide
• What is the oxide formed when sodium reacts with oxygen?

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

  Sodium peroxide
• What oxides can potassium form when reacting with oxygen?

  Potassium peroxide or potassium superoxide
• What are the general properties and trends of alkali metals?

  • Soft with low densities and melting points
  • More reactive than other metals
  • Reactivity increases down the group
  • Melting and boiling points decrease down the group
• How do alkali metals react with water, chlorine, and oxygen?

  • React with water to form metal hydroxide and hydrogen
  • React with chlorine to form white metal chloride salts
  • React with oxygen to form metal oxides
• What is the significance of ionic compounds formed by alkali metals?

  • Formed by donating electrons to non-metals
  • Generally white solids that dissolve in water
  • Atoms become oppositely charged ions, creating ionic bonds