Alkali metals, alkaline earth metals

- alkali metal group - elements of group I.A - consists of six elements of PSP: lithium, sodium,
potassium, rubidium, cesium and francium
- have in the outer layer - one electron

Basic properties of alkali metals:

- are silvery,
- they are soft, so they can be cut with a knife,
- have a low density and a low melting point,
- in air they are rapidly coated with a layer of compounds, especially oxygen, so they are
stored e.g. in kerosene,
- they are very reactive and have low values of electronegativity, so they easily transfer
electrons and thus form cations
- alkali metals characteristically color the flame
- all alkali metals react with water to form hydroxides, some exploding

Sodium (Na), Potassium (K)

- highly reactive metals, their oxidation number is + I,

- They form compounds with halogens, called halides,
- are biogenic elements, their cations are involved in vital processes in the body,
- Na + and K + cations are found in soaps and glass
- liquid sodium and potassium form a coolant mixture in nuclear reactors

Potassium (K)

- potassium cations are needed by humans for the circulation, digestive and nervous systems,
- its main source is fruit and vegetables, in small quantities in meat, eggs, milk and dairy
products,
- its increased consumption is due to the loss of fluids from the body, e.g. with diarrhea,
- its deficiency is manifested by muscle disorders,
- it enters the soil in the form of potassium fertilizers

Lithium (Li)

- very light and soft metal, with magnesium-like properties,

- the main sources of lithium for humans are in the form of Li ions + mineral waters and citrus
fruits,
- lithium salts cure many, especially mental illnesses,
- used in nuclear energy, for the production of batteries and cells,
- lithium alloys are used in the construction of aircraft components

Rubidium (Rb)

- soft, light and silvery metal, which reacts extremely quickly and explosively with oxygen and
water,
- in nature we encounter it only in the form of compounds,
- rubidium metal must be stored under a layer of kerosene or diesel,
- its content in the earth's crust and seawater is relatively high
Cesium (Cs)

- soft, light and silvery metal, which reacts extremely quickly with oxygen and water,
- in nature we encounter it only in the form of compounds,
- as one of the few metals it remains liquid at almost room temperature (along with francia
and gallium),
- must be stored under a layer of kerosene,
- used in photocells

Francium (Fr)

- an unstable, highly radioactive element,

- occur in nature in uranium and thorium ore,
- it is the second rarest element in the earth's crust,
- is the heaviest alkali metal and is formed due to the breakdown of actinium,
- artificially created by bombarding thorium with protons

Alkaline earth metals

- They have 2 war electrons in orbits with

- Atoms have a stronger metal bond - less reactive
- Higher melting points and higher density
- Hard, fragile
- Electronegativity is slightly higher than alkali metals
- Silver white to gray metals
- Reducers, but the reaction is not as violent as alkali metals

Beryllium (Be)

- The chemical properties are similar to those of aluminum

- Soluble beryllium compounds are toxic
- Dissolves in alkali hydroxide solution - it is amphoteric (they have both basic and acidic
functional unit)

Magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca)

- Biogenic elements
- Ca cations are part of the blood serum, important for the activity of the nervous system
- Mg acts as a depressant on the central and peripheral nervous system, heart attack
prevention, mild depression
- Mg is part of chlorophyll
- Mineral waters with high Mg content: Korytnica, Baldovská