1.1.25

Alkali Metals - Properties

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Alkali Metals (Group 1) - Properties

All of the elements in Group 1 have 1 electron in their outer shell. These metals are very reactive because they easily lose the electron in their outer shell. They have similar properties and usually react in similar ways.

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Reacting with water

  • The metal floats on the surface and melts to create a metal hydroxide (e.g. lithium hydroxide).
  • When they react with water, the energy released is enough to melt the metal.
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Reacting with chlorine

  • A metal chloride is formed (e.g. sodium chloride), which dissolves in water to give a colourless solution.
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Reacting with oxygen

  • Rapidly turns from silvery shiny to dull as a metal oxide (e.g. potassium oxide) is produced.

Jump to other topics

1Atomic Structure

2Chemical Bonding

3Quantitative Chemistry

4Chemical Changes

5Energy Changes

6The Rate & Extent of Chemical Change

7Organic Chemistry

8Chemical Analysis

9Chemistry of the Atmosphere

10Using Resources

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