1. Trends in chemical reactivity of alkali metals

Question 1

Summarise the properties of the alkali metals (5)

Answer 1

1. All the alkali metals are very reactive elements because they all have low first ionisation energy values.
2. They are so reactive that none of them occur free in nature as the metal itself.
3. Since they have low first ionisation energies and low electronegativity values, they readily form ionic compounds by losing their single outer electron.
4. The tendency to lose an electron in observed in all of the chemical reactions of alkali metals.
5. The reactivity of the alkali metals increases down the group as the increasing atomic radius and the screening effect of inner shells of electrons cause the first ionisation energy to decrease down the group so the electron in the outermost energy level is more easily lost.

Question 2

Why does the reactivity of the alkali metals increase down the group?

Answer 2

The reactivity of the alkali metals increases down the group as the increasing atomic radius and the screening effect of inner shells of electrons cause the first ionisation energy to decrease down the group so the electron in the outermost energy level is more easily lost.

Question 3

Why are alkali metals very reactive?

Answer 3

All the alkali metals are very reactive elements because they all have low first ionisation energy values.

Question 4

How do alkali metals occur in nature?

Answer 4

They are so reactive that none of them occur free in nature as the metal itself.

Question 5

Why do alkali metals readily form ionic compounds

Answer 5

Since they have low first ionisation energies and low electronegativity values, they readily form ionic compounds by losing their single outer electron.