3

Li

Group 1 - T he A l k al i Met al s

Lithium

THE GROUP 1 ELEMENTS ARE SHINY, SOFT, AND HIGHLY REACTIVE METALS, NONE OF WHICH OCCUR NATURALLY AS FREE ELEMENTS

11
Na

M E LTI NG P OI NTS
FRANCIUM
27.0C

RUBIDIUM
39.5C

T H E A L K A L I M E TA L S R E A C T W I T H
WAT E R TO F O R M

SODIUM
97.7C

M E TA L H Y D R O X I D E S

Sodium

LiOH

19
K

CAESIUM
28.4C

Potassium

37
Rb
Rubidium

55
Cs
Caesium

87
Fr
Francium

POTASSIUM
63.4C

LITHIUM
180.5C

AL L
OF THE

G R O U P 1 M E TA L S
HAVE

ONE
VALENCE ELECT R O N

NaOH

KOH

A L K A L I M E TA L S
R E A C T W I T H
OX Y G E N TO F O R M
M E TA L OXI D E S
A L K A L I M E TA L S
R E A C T W I T H
HALOGENS TO FO R M
I O N I C S A L T S
U S E S

O F

T H E

RbOH

CsOH

Na+

Cl-

Na+

Cl-

Cl-

Na+

Cl-

Na+

Na+

Cl-

Na+

Cl-

Cl-

Na+

Cl-

Na+

A L K A L I

M E T A L S

THE REACTIVITY OF THE GROUP 1 METALS

I NCR E A S ES DOWN THE GROUP

A S THE OUTER ELECTRON GE TS
F U R TH E R F R OM TH E N U C L E U S
& B E CO M E S E A S I E R TO R E M OV E

LITHIUM

SODIUM

POTASSIUM

ANTI
DEPRESSANTS

STREET LAMPS

FERTILISERS

BATTERIES

TABLE SALT

SOAPS

RUBIDIUM
& CAESIUM

FRANCIUM

ATOMIC
CLOCKS

RADIOACTIVE

2 01 3 CO M P O U N D I N T E R E S T - W W W. CO M P O U N D C H E M . CO M