The Alkali Metals Flashcards
what is the template explaining reactivity as you go down group 1 and group 7
The atoms in group 1/7 react by losing/gaining electrons. As you go down the group, the number of shells increases, so the effect of shielding increases, weakening the attraction between the nucleus and the outer electron. This makes it easier/harder to lose/gain the electron. Furthermore, as you go down group 1/7, the distance between the nucleus and the outer electron increases, weakening the attraction between both, making it easier/harder to lose/gain the electron, and so reactivity increases/decreases as you go down group 1/7.
what happesn to the mpbp of group 1
as you go down group 1 the boiling point decreases because there is less electrostatic forces of attraction between the nucleus and the outer electron, to break this force between the nucleus and electron less energy is required as you go down the group because of less forces of attraction, thus the decrease in boiling point
what happens to the density of group 1
densities tend to decrease but not regularly as u go down the group, Li, K, and Na are less dense than water
what are the physical properties of alkali metals (3)
they are very soft, easily slicable with a knife, shiny and silver on the inside when cut but tarnish quickly because of reaction with oxygen
what are the group 1 stored in
Li, K and Na are stored in oil and the lower elements are so reactive they are stored in air tight glass
why are the group 1 elements stored in oil
because they are very reactive with oxygen
what happens when group 1 when they react with water
they form alkaline solutions of the metal hydroxides
what are the chemial properties of group 1 (5)
they all react with water to form metal hydroxides
they all react with oxygen to form oxides
they all react with halogens to form compounds
they all form ionic compounds
they all have 1 electron in their outer shell
what is the formula for group 1 reactin with water
2M + 2H2O –> 2MOH + H2
what can you see happening to sodium when it reacts with water
it fizzes and floats above the water, rolling and melts into a ball before dissapears
what can you see happening to lithium when it reacts with water
it is slower than sodiums because it has a higher melting point than sodium, and burns of with a crimson flame
what can you see happening to potassium when it reacts with water
same as sodium but it is more aggressive and faster, often spits around and burns with a lilac flame before exploding a little bit
