Group 1 elements

• Known as alkali metals, they are soft metals with low melting points
• They can be easily oxidised
• Must be stored in oil as they react to oxygen in air and in water
• Ionic equation, Li- —> Li+1 + e-, Na- —> Na+1 + e-, K- —> K+1 + e-
• they are able to float on water as they are less dense than water
• They fizz when in contact with water and produce hydrogen gas which can be proved through the squeaky pop test
• As you go down group 1, their atomic radius increases due to more electron shells getting bigger meaning it’s reactivity increases as you go down, they become more reactive as they are trying to lose an electron on the outer shell, the electrostatic attraction between the positive nucleus and the negative outer electron starts to decrease meaning that it is able to easily lose the outer electron.
• They produce alkaline solutions
• They have low density because have the lowest ionisation energy
• Low ionisation energy is when the atom requires less energy to loss an electron
• Alkali metal + water —> metal hydroxide + hydrogen
• Lithium + water —> lithium hydroxide + hydrogen
• When Li reacts with water, it fizzes and floats
• When Na reacts with water it fizzes and turns itself into a silver ball
• When K reacts with water it releases a lilac flame and fizzes
• Why is it easier to lose the outer electron?


  electrostatic attraction between nucleus and outer electron decreases
• the test for carbon dioxide is limewater turns cloudy
• Limewater turns cloudy when


  Carbon dioxide is present
• When carbon dioxide is present…

  Limewater turns cloudy
• What happens as you go down group 1?

  Reactivity increases as the atomic radius increases, meaning that the electrostatic attraction between the positive nucleus and negative outer electron will decrease, this allows atom to easily lose outer electron, making it more reactive
• What does the group show?

  amount of electrons on outer shell
• What does period show?

  amount of electron shells
• Symbol equitation of lithium reacting with water is?

  2Li(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2LiOH(aq) + H2(g)
• the symbol equation of Sodium reacting with water is?

  2Na ( s ) + 2H2O ( l ) → 2NaOH ( aq ) + H2 ( g )
• Alkali metals when reacted with chlorine gas form what?

  white metal chloride salt
• Alkali metals react vigorously with what?

  chlorine gas
• What do alkali metals form when they react with oxygen?

  metal oxides
• What is the equation of alkali metal and oxygen?

  alklai metal + oxygen —> metal oxides
• What occurs when lithium and oxygen react?

  lithium + oxygen —> lithium oxide (Li2O)
• What occurs when sodium reacts with oxygen?


  sodium +oxygen —> sodium oxide (Na2O)
• Sodium and oxygen can also react to make what?

  sodium + oxygen —> sodium peroxide (Na2O2)
• What occurs when potassium reacts with oxygen?

  potassium + oxygen —> potassium peroxide (K2O2)
• What can also be produced when potassium reacts with oxygen?

  potassium superoxide (KO2)