Alkali Metals

• Alkali Metals

  • group 1 elements
  • react with water to form alkali solutions
  • soft, silvery solids that can be cut easily
  • good conductors of heat and electricity
  • low densities
  • very reactive
• Alkali Metals Trends

  • low densities, density increases down the group
  • melting and boiling point decreases down the group,  increasing size of the ions weakens metallic bond so less energy is required to break the bonds between ions
  • very reactive, reactivity increases down the group as the atomic size increases due to increasing number of electron shells, thus the valence electrons are further away from the nucleus, allowing it to lose its valence electron more easily