8.1.2

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 soft and have relatively low melting points. They 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

1States of Matter

2Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

3Atomic Structure

4The Periodic Table

5Chemical Formulae, Equations & Calculations

6Bonding

7Electrolysis

8Groups of the Periodic Table

9The Atmosphere

10Reactivity Series

11Metal Extraction

12Acids & Alkalis

13Chemical Tests

14Physical Chemistry

15Organic Chemistry

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