Group 1

• Group 1 metals


  • Soft
  • React rapidly with oxygen
• Lithium


  Reacts rapidly with oxygen and forms the compound lithium oxide
• Sodium


  Reacts more rapidly than lithium with oxygen and forms the compound sodium oxide
• Potassium


  Reacts even more rapidly than either of them and forms the compound potassium oxide
• As we move down group 1

  The metals react more rapidly
• Group 1 metals also react rapidly with chlorine
• Reacting with water


  Group 1 metals react rapidly with water
• Lithium and water


  Fizzing (meaning a gas has been produced) and alkaline solution. Rapid reaction
• Sodium


  Reacts more rapidly with water than lithium. Gas is also produced and an alkaline solution is formed
• As we go down group 1

  Group 1 metals are more reactive
• Reason for increased reactivity


  • The elements can lose its outer electrons more easily as the radius of the atom increases meaning there is a greater distance between the positive nucleus and negative outer electron and as the distance increases the outer electron is less attracted to the positive nucleus
  • The outer electron is repelled by electrons in the internal energy levels (shielding) and this decreases the attraction between the nucleus and the outer electron
  • As we move down group 1 the elements have more electrons in the internal energy levels and so shielding increases