CHEMISTRY

13.2 Trends in groups

Group I – the alkali metals
■ Soft solids with low melting point and low density
■ Highly reactive
■ Stored in oil to prevent reacting with oxygen or water vapour
■ Melting and boiling point decrease down the group
■ Density and chemical reactivity increase down the group
Alkali metal reacting with water
Alkali metal Gas Heat Alkaline flame
production production solution
Lithium Fizzes slowly Moves Solution turns No flame
slowly, does purple
not melt
Sodium Fizzes Melts into Solution turns No flame
strongly ball as it purple
moves

Potassium Fizzes Melts and Solution turns Lilac flame

violently moves purple
quickly
Write the equation for alkali metal reacting
with water
Group VII – the halogens
■ Most reactive non-metals with one valence electron

■ Reactivity decreases down the group

■ Melting and boiling point increase down the group

■ All are poisonous and have strong smell

■ All forms diatomic molecules (Cl2, Br2, I2)

■ Forms strong acid as a compound with hydrogen

■ Forms halides – compound formed with any element (sodium iodide)

Chemical reactivity of halogen
■ Reacts readily with metals to form metal halides
■ Fluorine and chlorine are very active
■ Binds strongly with metals and non-metals
■ Chlorine reacting with magnesium
■
■ Hydrogen burnt in chlorine
■
■ Chlorine dissolved in water
■
Halogen displacement reaction
■ More reactive halogen will displace the less reactive halogen

■ Chlorine reacting with potassium bromide

■ Bromine reacting with potassium iodide

■
Group VIII – the noble gases
■ Stable electron arrangement

■ Inert gases as they are unreactive

■ Helium used in airships and balloons as it is light

■ Argon used to fill incandescent light bulb

■ Noble gases are used in neon light

– Different gas gives different colour

■ Extremely low boiling and melting point