Chemistry Of Group I Elements

Question 1

What are the physical properties of Group I?

Answer 1

1. They conduct heat and electricity well.
2. They are soft.
3. They have low melting and boiling points.
4. They are mostly silvery white metal solids (exception of Caesium; melts at 28°C)
5. They give off characteristic colour in flame test.
6. They are least electronegative.
7. They have the largest atomic size and least first ionization energy.

Question 2

Why does melting point decrease down the group?

Answer 2

Decreasing metallic bond that results from increasing atomic size.

Question 3

What makes the first element of groups behave strangely compared to the rest of the group?

Answer 3

First elements have higher electronegativity and smaller size.

Question 4

What element does Lithium share some of its properties with?

Answer 4

Magnesium (Mg)

Question 5

What is diagonal relationship?

Answer 5

This is the resemblance of each of the first three elements in Period II to the elements diagonal to them in Period III.