group 1

• Alkali metals


  Elements in Group 1 of the periodic table
• Alkali metals


  • Have a single electron in their outer shell
• Reactions of the first three alkali metals

  1. With oxygen

  2. With chlorine

  3. With water
• All the elements are metals
• Melting points of alkali metals

  • Relatively low at room temperature
  • Decrease as atoms get bigger going down the group
• Density of alkali metals

  Low for metals
• Lithium, sodium and potassium all float on water as they are less dense than water
• Reaction of alkali metals with non-metals


  Transfer of electrons from the metal to the non-metal forming compounds made of ions
• Alkali metals


  Always form positive ions (e.g. Li+, Na+, K+) as they have one electron in their outer shell which they lose when they react to obtain a noble gas electron structure
• Reaction of alkali metals with oxygen

  1. Alkali metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides which are white powders

  2. Word equation: Metal + Oxygen → Metal oxide

  3. Example: 4Na + O2 → 2Na₂O
• The metals burn with different colour flames. For example Lithium burns with a crimson flame, sodium with a yellow flame and potassium with a lilac flame
• Reaction of alkali metals with chlorine


  1. Alkali metals all burn in chlorine to form metal chlorides which are white powders

  2. Word equation: Metal + Chlorine → Metal chloride

  3. Example: 2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl
• Reaction of alkali metals with water

  1. Alkali metals all react with water, releasing hydrogen gas, and forming a solution containing a metal hydroxide

  2. Word equation: Metal + Water → Metal hydroxide + Hydrogen