Group 1 (Alkali Metals)
This lesson covers:
- The properties of the alkali metals (group 1 elements)
- The reactions of group 1 metals with water, chlorine, and oxygen
- Why the reactivity of alkali metals increases as you go down the group
Choose two properties of the Group 1 metals:
Unreactive
Reactive
Soft
Hard
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Trends in the chemical and physical properties of group 1 elements.
more / less / increase / decrease
- As you go down group 1, the metals become reactive.
- Their melting and boiling points .
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Explain why the reactivity of group 1 metals increases as you go down the group.
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Alkali metals react with water. Which two products are formed?
Metal hydroxide
Metal oxide
Water
Oxygen
Hydrogen
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The group 1 metals can react with the non-metals in group 7.
When sodium reacts with chlorine it forms an ionic salt called .
When solid, the normal colour of this salt is .
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Some of the compounds formed when alkali metals react with oxygen can be a bit confusing. It's best to just memorise these ones:
- Lithium reacts with oxygen to form lithium oxide, Li2O.
- Sodium reacts with oxygen to form sodium oxide, Na2O or sodium peroxide, Na2O2.
- Potassium reacts with oxygen to form potassium peroxide, K2O2, or potassium superoxide, KO2.