Alkali Metals

• Group I metals: Lithium, sodium and potassium
• Chemical properties of Alkali metals

  • Readily react with oxygen and water; stored in oil
  • React violently with chlorine
  • Burst into flames when heated with oxygen[red flame for lithium; yellow flame for sodium; lilac flame for potassium]
  • Produce soluble white compounds.
  • React with water to form alkaline metal and hydrogen gas
• Physical Properties of alkali metals

  • Good conductors of heat and electricity
  • Soft and easy to cut
  • Shiny when freshly cut
  • Low melting and boiling points compared to most metals
  • Low densities for metals
• Predicting the properties of other Group I alkali metals:

  • Rubidium: Explodes with spark and produces Rubidium hydroxide
  • Caesium: Violent explosion and produces caesium hydroxide
  • Francium: Cannot predict due to radioactive reactivity