Alkali Metals (Group 1)
- The Groups 1 metals need to lose an electron to obtain a full octet of electrons, and thus these would have a +1 charge.
- These metals have got low densities, are very ductile and are silvery grey in colour.
- The reactivity of the metals increases down a group, due to the increase of the number of shells, making the electrons further away from the nucleus, and therefore easier to be lost.
Three common reactions of the groups 1 metals are with Oxygen, water and chlorine. It must be noted that two reactions will be followed with water, that of the true metal and the metal oxide.
Oxygen
4Na + O2 → 2Na2O
A simple reaction involving a group 1 metal and Oxygen.
Water
2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2
Na2O + H2O → 2NaOH
The two reactions yield sodium hydroxide as a product but in the first reaction, there is a displacement of the Hydrogen atom, resulting from the fact that Sodium is much more reactive then Hydrogen.
Chlorine
K + Cl → KCl
This is a direct synthesis reaction where potassium and chlorine react to form a salt. This is a typical metal and non-metal reaction.