GROUP 1 ELEMENTS

CHARACTERISTICS ATOMIC RADII (nm)

Lowest first ionisation

energy and very high
second ionisation energy.
Soft metal
Metallic character
Low electronegativity
Ionic bond with fixed
oxidation state (+1)

Alkaline metals IONISATION ENERGY

ELECTROPOSITIVE/METALLIC
CHARACTER FLAME
COLOURATION

High tendency to lose

electron to form positive
ions
Metallic character Lowest IE in each
increase down the group period
Decrease down the
Li Na K Rb Cs group
(deep red) (yellow) (lilac) (bluish red) (purplish-blue)
 BASIC OXIDES,
OXIDE, PEROXIDE, SUPEROXIDE
HYDROXIDES

ACTION WITH Alkaline

Alkaline
metals
metals ACTION WITH
WATER
HYDROGEN
All the alkali metals react directly with

Water and alkali metals react to
hydrogen to form hydrides which are ionic ACTION WITH HALOGEN form hydrogen and hydroxides.
in nature. While Li responds slowly, Na and the
To create ionic halides, all alkali others respond brutally. For this
metals immediately react with reason, they are stored in paraffin.
From Li to Cs, the ionic nature of
halogen. All are soluble and basic stength
hydrides increases.
Down the group, the reactivity of increases down the group
The stability of hydrides decreases
the halogen towards the alkali
from Li to Cs.
metal rises.
The latter increases from Li to Cs as a
result of the hydrides' strong lowering
actions.
 GROUP 2 ELEMENTS
ATOMIC RADII (nm)
CHARACTERISTICS

Low first ionisation energy and

second ionisation energy.
Metallic character
low electronegativity
ionic bond with fixed oxidation state IONISATION ENERGY
(+2)

Alkaline Earth
MELTING POINTS :

Metallic bond depends on

metals Low 1st and 2nd EI
ionic radius, number of
removal of 3rd electron
electron contributed, crystal is harder
BASIC OXYDES AND
layyice structure HYDRATION EI decreases as the
HYDROXYDES ENTHALPY
: group descended
NOTE; Ca has high melting

point due tu d-orbital Decreases going down both EI of group 2 generally

participation in metallic groups higher than group 1
Hydration enthalpy of
bonding
Group 2 is higher than
group 1
 THERMAL STABILITY
ACTION WITH HYDROGEN

REACTION OF HYDRIDES
All elements except Be react Increase down the group
All react with water due to Carbonates and hydroxides
directly with hydrogen
strong basic property of of group 1 are more stable
The reactivity increases down
hydride ion than group 2
the group

More stable if charge and

size of ions decreases

REACTION WITH OXYGEN
All alkaline earth metals except
barium form normal oxide
Ba form peroxide Alkaline Earth THE USES OF ELEMENT
CaO (calcium oxide) used in in
metals the manufacture of cement, in

the purification of sugar and

manufacture of dye stuffs
Calcium hydroxide in
FLAME COLOURATION REACTION WITH WATER manufactoring of building
SOLUBILITY
material, and used in white wash
Solubility of hydroxides as disinfectant.
increases down the group
Solubility of sulphates
increases up the group