Group 1

• Group one


  Also called the alkaline metals
• Group one metals have one electron in their outer energy level
• How group one metals react with oxygen

  1. Lithium reacts rapidly with oxygen in the air to form lithium oxide

  2. Sodium reacts rapidly with oxygen in the air to form sodium oxide

  3. Potassium reacts even more rapidly with oxygen in the air to form potassium oxide
• Group one metals


  • They react rapidly with oxygen
  • As we move down the group, the metals react more rapidly
• Reaction between lithium and oxygen

  1. Lithium atom transfers outer electron to oxygen atom

  2. Lithium atom now has full outer energy level

  3. Oxygen atom still requires one more electron

  4. Another lithium atom transfers its outer electron to oxygen

  5. Both lithium atoms and oxygen atom now have full outer energy levels

  6. Lithium atoms become positive lithium ions

  7. Oxygen atom becomes negative oxide ion
• Equation for reaction between lithium and oxygen: 4Li + O2 -> 2Li2O
• Equations for reactions between sodium/potassium and oxygen can be written by changing the metal symbol
• How group one metals react with chlorine

  1. Lithium atom transfers outer electron to chlorine atom

  2. This produces positive lithium ion and negative chloride ion

  3. Both ions now have full outer energy levels
• Equation for reaction between lithium and chlorine: 2Li + Cl2 -> 2LiCl
• Equations for reactions between sodium/potassium and chlorine can be written by changing the metal symbol
• Group one metals


  Also called the alkaline metals, have one electron in their outer energy level
• How group one metals react with water

  1. Lithium reacts with water

  2. Sodium reacts with water

  3. Potassium reacts with water
• Reactions of group one metals with water

  • Produce a gas (effervescence/fizzing)
  • Produce an alkaline solution (indicated by universal indicator turning purple)
• As we move down group one


  The group one metals react more rapidly with water
• Lithium hydroxide is an alkali
• Hydrogen gas is produced in the reactions
• Symbol equation for lithium reacting with water

  Lithium + Water → Lithium Hydroxide + Hydrogen
• As we move down group one

  The atoms have a greater radius, so the outer electron is less attracted to the nucleus
• As we move down group one

  Shielding increases, so the outer electron is less attracted to the nucleus
• The outer electron is easier to lose as we move down group one
• This makes the group one elements more reactive as we move down the group