group 1 ( alkali metals )

• what are group 1 metals known as ?

  • alkali metals
• what metals are in group 1 ?

  • lithium , sodium , potassium , rubidium , caesium , francium
• why do group 1 metals have similar chemical properties ?

  • they all have one outer electron
• what are the physical properties of group 1 metals ?

  • low melting points
  • low boiling points
  • very soft (can be cut with knife )
• what do alkali metals form so easily .. why ?

  • ionic compounds - they lose outer electron so easily
• what do group 1 metals form once they've lost their outer electron ?

  • 1+ ion with a stable electronic structure
• why are group 1 metals very reactive ?

  • they lose their outer electrons without difficulty - easily
  • the more readily a metal loses its outer electron the more reactive it is
• what happens to the metals as you go down group 1 ?

  • the metals get more reactive
• why is the outer electron easily lost ?

  • because its further from the nucleus (atomic radius is larger) - its less strongly attached to the nucleus and less energy is needed to remove it
• what happens when alkali metals react with water ?

  • they react vigorously
• what are the products of the reaction metal + water ?

  • hydrogen gas and a metal hydroxide
• what is produced when sodium is formed with water ?

  • sodium hydroxide and hydrogen
• what are the results in reaction when going down group 1 ?

  • the metals react more violently as you go down
• what happens when lithium is added to water ?

  • move around the surface , fizzing vigorously
• what happens when sodium is added to water ?

  • move around fizzing vigorously
  • it also melts in the heat of the reaction
• what happens when potassium is added to water ?

  • move around , fizzing vigorously and melting in the heat of the reaction
  • it even gets hot enough to ignite the hydrogen gas being produced - fire
• what do rubidium and caesium tend to do when added to water ?

  • explode
• why do alkali metals have to be stored in oil ?

  • they will just react with air otherwise so the oil prevents this from happening