Science Process Skills

To investigate chemical properties of Group 1 metals in the reactions with chlorine

Identifying and controlling variables

Defining operationally

Manipulated variable: Different types of alkali metals Responding variable: Reactivity of alkali metals Controlled variable: Volume and type of chlorine gas, size of alkali metals Reactivity of alkali metals (Brightness of flame and speed of burning) is defined by the vigorousness of the reaction between different alkali metals and chlorine gas The more vigorous is the reaction between Group 1 metal with chlorine gas, the more reactive is the alkali metal When going down group 1, the alkali metals react more vigorously with chlorine gas

Formulating Hypothesis

Inferring

Predicting

The reactivity of reaction between group 1 metals with chlorine gas will increase from lithium, sodium to potassium

Materials: Small pieces of lithium, sodium, potassium, filter paper, 3 same volume jars filled with chlorine gas Apparatus: Bunsen burner, forceps, gas jar spoon, small knife Precaution: Wear goggles and gloves when handling poisonous chlorine gas and very reactive sodium and potassium

Experimenti ng

A small piece of lithium is cut out using a knife, the oil surface on lithium is removed using a filter paper, the lithium is heated in a chlorine gas jar spoon until it starts to burn. Then, quickly lowering the lithium into the gas jar and the changes occur are recorded. All the steps are repeated for sodium and potassium.

Observing

Lithium :

Burns slowly with red flame and liberates white fumes which become white solid at the end of the reaction Burns rapidly and brightly with a yellow flame and liberates white fumes which become a white solid at the end of the reaction

Sodium :

Potassiu m

Burns very rapidly and brightly with lilac flame and liberates white fumes which become a white solid at the end of the reaction

Interpreting data

Lithium, sodium and potassium exhibit similar chemical properties in their reaction with chlorine gas because all these alkali metals have one valence electron.
All alkali metals react with chlorine gas when heated to produce white solid chlorides. 2Li + Cl2 2LiCl 2Na + Cl2 2NaCl 2K + Cl2 2KCl

Conclusion:
The alkali metals echibit similar chemical

properties in their reactions with chlorine vapour.

The reactivity of alkali metals increase down

Group 1.
Hence,

hypothesis

proposed

can

be

accepted.

THANK YOU