Alkali metals

PLAN
History of discovery

Atomic structure and oxidation state

Physical properties

Chemical properties
BEING IN NATURE

PRODUCTION OF ALKALI METALS

Qualitative determination of alkali metals

Alkali metal compounds and application

 HISTORY OF DISCOVERY

Li Discovered in 1817 by the Swedish chemist A.Arfvedson.But,in free

form it was later isolated by G.Davy by alkali electrolysis

Na,K In 1807, the English chemist G. Davy for the first time received in a
free form by electrolysis moistened solid alkalis

German chemists R. Bunsen and G. Kirchhoff, using spectral

Rb,Cs analysis, discovered cesium in minerals in 1860, and
rubidium in 1861

Discovered in 1939 by M. Perey while analyzing the products of

Fr radioactive decay of actinium. In 1946, M. Pere proposed to name
the element in honor of her homeland France
 ATOMIC STRUCTURE
Li
+3

1
▪Increases the charge of the
+11 nucleus
Na 1 ▪The number of energy levels
G is growing
K +19
R
1 O ▪The radius of the atom
U increases
Rb +37 P
1 ▪Metal and reducing
properties are increased
Cs +55
1

Fr +87
1
 OXIDATION STATE
-1е
Li 0 +3

1 Li+1
-1е
Na Na+1
+11
0
1

-1е
K0 +19
1
K+1
-1е
Rb 0 +37
1
Rb+1
-1е
Cs 0 +55
1
Cs+1
-1е
Fr 0 +87
1 Fr+1
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
ELEMENTS BY POSITION IN THE
PS
sign Ст. Ox. RH R2 O Hydroxides
N Z nEl ЭФ

Li 3 +3 2 2s1 +1 LiН Li2О LiОН

Na 11 +11 3 3s1 +1 NaН Na2О NaОН

K 19 +19 4 4s1 +1 KН K 2О KОН

Rb 37 +37 5 5s1 +1 RbН Rb2О RbОН

Cs 55 +55 6 6s1 +1 CsН Cs2О CsОН

Fr 87 +87 7 7s1 +1 FrН Fr2О FrОН

7
 REMEMBER!
The oxidation state of the metals of group I
of the main subgroup in the compounds is
constant and equal to +1
+1 +1 +1

NaOH, K2O, Li3PO4,

+1 +1 +1

K2CO3, NaCl, Na2O2

 SIMPLE SUBSTANCES

Li Na К Rb Cs Fr
t M,С 180,6 97,8 63,07 39,5 28,4 20
t B,С 1342 883 759 688 671 690
ρ g/cm3 0,534 0,986 0,856 1,532 1,90 1,87

Melting point and boiling point decrease the density of metals increases

•Silvery-white, with a characteristic metallic luster, but quickly fade

(oxidize) in air;
•Soft, easy to cut with a knife;
•Conduct heat and electric current well;
•Lungs (Li, Na, K - lighter than water);
•Fusible
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Ме Out-of-state view Solidity

Li soft 0,6
Na plastic 0,4
K plastic 0,5
Rb viscous 0,3
Cs Very soft 0,2
Fr - -
10
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ALKALI
METALS
General characteristics of reducing properties

Oxidation Interaction with nonmetals

Interaction with water Interaction with acids

Alloys of alkali metals

 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

• Metals of group I of the main subgroup - the most active

metals, have a high reducing capacity

•In the series Li - Na - K - Rb - Cs - Fr, chemical activity

increases

•Form compounds with ionic bond and ionic crystal

lattice
 INTERACT WITH OXYGEN

4e

0 +1
4 Li + О2 2Li2O
Reducer Oxidant
Lithium oxide

2e

0 +1
2 Na + O2 Na2 O2
Reducer Oxidant SODIUM PEROXIDE
 INTERACT WITH NONMETALS

2e

0 +1
2 Li + S Li2S
Reducer Oxidant
Lithium sulfide

3e

0 +1
3 Na + P
Reducer
Na3 P
Oxidant SODIUM PHOSPHIDE
15
INTERACTION WITH
WATER
2Ме + 2Н2О = 2МеОН + Н2

Ме Water Product
Li LiOH
Na NaOH
+Н2О
K KOH
Rb RbOH
Cs CsOH
Fr FrOH
 INTERACTION WITH ACIDS
16

◎2Ме + 2Н = 2Ме + Н2
+ +

◎Alkali metals do not interact

with acid solutions!
 ATTENTION!
When interacting with oxygen, only lithium
forms oxide.
Other metals of group I of the main subgroup,
when interacting with oxygen, form peroxides
and supraperoxides.

SODIUM PEROXIDE
+1 -1 -1 +1

Na O O Na
 DID YOU KNOW?

When sodium peroxide reacts with carbon dioxide,

a process occurs that is reversed to respiration -
carbon dioxide binds, and oxygen is released:

2Na2О2 + 2СО2 → 2Na2CО3 + О2

This reaction is based on the use of sodium

peroxide to produce oxygen on submarines
and to regenerate air in enclosed spaces.
 STORAGE OF ALKALI METALS

Since alkali metals are easily oxidized and

have high chemical activity, they are stored
under a layer of kerosene.

Keep
away
from
water
 BEING IN NATURE
Alkali metals in nature are found only in the form of
compounds.
In ocean waters
In minerals and
rocks

Na Cl
table salt
Na Cl • K Cl In living
Na2SO4 • 10H2O
Silvinit organisms
Mirabilite,
Glauber's salt

Rubidium and cesium France is found

are found in the form of in uranium ores
K Cl• Mg Cl2• 6H2O impurities to other
Carnallite alkali metals
 Natural compounds of lithium

Description of the mineral

Chemical
composition
LiAl[Si2O6]

Color Red, Yellow, Green

Density 3,1—3,2 g/cm3

Spodumen Solidity 6,5
 Natural compounds of sodium
Description of the mineral

Chemical
composition NaСl

Colorless, Red,
Color
Yellow, Blue

Density
2,2—2,3g/cm3

Solidity 2,5

Galit Taste Salty

 Natural compounds potassium
Description of the mineral
Chemical
composition КСl
Colorless, Milky
Color White, Dark Red,
Pink

Density 1,97-1,99 g/cm3

Solidity 1,5

Silvin Taste Caustic

 Natural compounds of magnesium

Description of the mineral

Chemical MgCl2·KCl·6H2O
composition

Red, Yellow, White,

Color
Colorless

Density 1,6g/cm3

Solidity 1,5

Karnalit Taste Hot salty

 PRODUCTION OF ALKALI METALS

Alkali metals are obtained by electrolysis of melts of chloride

salts
electric current
2NaCl (melt) 2Na + Cl2
26 PRODUCTION OF ALKALI
METALS (K)
K

Na + KCl = K + NaCl
Melt electrolysis K2CO3 – KCl, cathode
– melt lead, distillation in vacuum
 27
PRODUCTION OF ALKALI
METALS

Li, Rb, Cs: electrolysis of

melt halides, zirconium-
thermium
◎2M2CO3 + Zr = 4M + ZrO2 +
2CO2
 Qualitative determination of alkali metals

To recognize alkali metal compounds by the color of the flame, the test
substance is introduced into the flame of the torch at the tip of the iron wire.

Li+ - carmine-red Cs+ - violet-blue

K+ - violet
Rb + -red
Na+ -yellow
 ALKALI METAL
COMPOUNDS
1)Oxygen compounds

2)Hydroxides

3)Halides

4)Sulfides

5)Application of alkali metals

29
 30
OXYGEN
COMPOUNDS
◎ Oxides – Ме2О

when interacting with water, they form alkalis

◎ Peroxides – Ме2О2, strong oxidizing agents

◎ Superoxides – МеО2 , strong oxidizing agents

◎ Оzonoids –МеО3 , strong
oxidizing agents, unstable,
decompose with the formation of supraperoxides:
2МеО3 = 2МеО2 + О2
31
HYDROXIDES
◎ МеОН – alkalis, well soluble in water, change the color of
the indicators:

◎ Alkaline properties change in the subgroup from top

to bottom
◎ Hygroscopic, sublimate when heated without
decomposition (except for lithium hydroxide,
decomposes)
 32
HALIDES

Form compounds with all halogens

Colorless, crystalline substances, do not melt, crystal

lattices face-centered

Salts that are highly soluble in water (except lithium fluoride), the
solubility varies depending on the position of the metal in the
subgroup

Have wide application

 33
SULFIDES
◎ Like compounds with oxygen, a number of sulfides
are formed:
◎ Sulfides– Ме2S
1. Persulfides – Ме2S2, Ме2S3, Ме2S4, Ме2S5, (Ме2Sn)

n: for lithium-2, Sodium–5, potassium-cesium-6

◎ Polysulfide resistance increases in the lithium-cesium
series
 APPLICATION OF ALKALI METALS

To obtain Chemical
tritium
Lithium current
sources

Production of Reduction in
alloys for organic
bearings synthesis
Pyrotechnics
APPLICATION OF ALKALI METALS

Reduction in
organic
synthesis
Thermal
Coolant in production of
nuclear reactors metals

Sodium
Qualitative
analysis of In medicine
organic
substances
Discharge
 APPLICATION OF ALKALI METALS

Coolant in
nuclear reactors

For the production

Potash fertilizers of potassium
peroxide

Potassium
In electroplating In medicine

Thermal
production of
metals
APPLICATION OF ALKALI
METALS
Atomic
industry

photocel
l Rb Medicine

Special
optics
 APPLICATION OF
ALKALI METALS
Photo
element
s

Nuclear
Special
element
optics Cs, s
Fr

In
medicin catalyst
e
 True or false
all metals in a row are alkali metalsLi, Na, K ,Са
Answer: False
The number of electrons at the external level in alkali metal atoms
is 1
Answer: true
The metallic properties of alkali metals from lithium to francium
are enhanced
Answer: true
The reducing properties of alkali metals from lithium to
francium are weakening
Answer: False
In a row from lithium to france, the atomic radius increases

Answer: true