CHEMISTRY YEAR 09 Class activity sheet-14 (Group I elements)

Lesson objectives:
By the end of this lesson, about 70% of the learners should be able to:

Name at least 3 group I elements on the Periodic Table

Explain the variation of physical properties and some chemical properties of group I elements

Recap of previous lesson:

What can you recall about the last lesson?
Prompt for prior knowledge:
What do you known about group I elements?

The Group I elements (alkali metals)

- Group I elements are also called alkali metals because they form oxides and hydroxides
that are alkalis. Thus they are called alkali metals for this reason.
- Definition: An alkali is a base that is soluble in water.
- The group I elements are soft metals with degree of softness increasing down the group.
- The table below shows the properties of some group I elements.
Element

Symbol

Lithium
Sodium
Potassium

Li
Na
K

Atomic
Electronic
number configuration
3
2:1
11
2:8:1
19
2:8:8:1

Density
in g/cm3
0.53
0.97
0.86

Melting
point in C
180.6
97.9
63.5

Boiling
point in C
1344
844
760

Activity 01: From the table above,

(a) What is common about the electronic configuration of group I elements?
..
(b) Suggest a reason why Li, Na and K are called group I elements.
..
(c) Suggest a reason why Li, Na and K are called alkali metals.
..
(d) What is the likely physical state of group I elements at room temperature (25C)? Explain.
.
(e) What is the likely physical state of potassium at a temperature of 90C? Explain.

(f) For sodium and potassium, which is harder than the order? Explain.
.
(g) Use the terms increase, decrease or stay the same to describe the variation of:
(i)
atomic number down group I, that is from Li to K.

(ii) melting point down group I, that is from Li to K.

(iii) number of outer electrons down group I, that is from Li to K.

Chemical properties of group I elements

(A) Reaction with water
- All the group I elements (alkali metals) react with water to produce hydrogen gas and alkaline
solutions.
- The release of hydrogen gas is noticed by fizzing (production of bubbles) .

- The reaction increases (becomes more vigorous and violent) down the group. This shows
that reactivity of group I elements increases down the group.
- The general equation for the reaction of a group I element with water is:
ALKALI METAL + WATER METAL HYDROXIDE + HYDROGEN
2M(s) + 2H2O(l) 2MOH(aq) + H2(g).
M = group I element (alkali metal)
Activity 02: The table below gives a summary of observations made when a group I element
react with water. Complete the table writing a balanced equation for the reaction between
each group I element on the table with water.
Element
Lithium (Li)

Sodium (Na)

Potassium (K)

Observation when it reacts with water

Equation for the reaction

- Li floats on water
- Fizzes as it reacts
- Heat is released
- Na floats on water
- Fizzes more vigorously as it reacts
- Heat is released
- Na melts due to high heat released
- K floats on water
- Fizzes much more vigorously as it reacts
- Heat is released
- Catches fire and burns with lilac flame

- Potassium catches fire in water because the heat produced is high enough to cause

hydrogen produced burn in air.

Activity 03:
(a) Suggest three common observations made when a group I element is added to water.

(b) Why does potassium catch fire when added to water? .

.
(c) Use the terms more reactive or less reactive to compare the reactivity of group I elements.
(i)
Lithium (Li) is .. than sodium (Na).
(ii) Potassium (K) is .. than sodium (Na).
(iii) Lithium (Li) is .. than potassium (K).
(B) Reaction with oxygen
- All the group I elements react or burn in oxygen or air to produce their respective oxides. The
reaction increases down the group .
- The general equation for the reaction of a group I element with oxygen or air is :
- The general equation for the reaction of a group I element with oxygen is:
ALKALI METAL + OXYGEN METAL OXIDE
4M(s) + O2(g) 2M2O(s).
M = group I element (alkali metal)
Activity 04: The table below gives a summary of observations made when a group I element
react with oxygen. Complete the table writing a balanced equation for the reaction between
each group I element on the table with oxygen.
Element
Observation when it reacts with oxygen
Equation for the reaction
- White solid formed
Lithium (Li)
- Red flame during reaction
- Heat is released
- White solid formed
Sodium (Na)
- yellow flame during reaction
- Heat is released
Potassium (K) - White solid formed
- lilac flame during reaction

- Heat is released

Activity 05:
(a) Suggest two common observations made when a group I element reacts with oxygen .

(b) Suggest a reason why group I elements should be stored under oil.

(C) Reaction with halogens

- Group VII elements; fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br) and iodine (I) are called halogens .
- All the group I elements react with halogens to produce their respective halides. The reaction
increases down the group.
- The general equation for the reaction of a group I element with a halogen is :
ALKALI METAL + HALOGEN METAL HALIDE
2M(s) + X2(g) 2MX(s).
M = group I element (alkali metal) and X = halogen.
Activity 06: The table below gives a summary of observations made when a group I element
react with oxygen. Complete the table writing a balanced equation for the reaction between
each group I element on the table with chlorine gas.
Element
Observation when it reacts with chlorine
Equation for the reaction
- White smoke then white solid formed
Lithium (Li)
- Heat is released
- White smoke then white solid formed
Sodium (Na)
- Heat is released
- White smoke then white solid formed
Potassium (K)
- Heat is released
Activity 07:
(a) Suggest two common observations made when a group I element reacts with a halogen .

(b) Bromine is a liquid. Write a balanced equation to show the reaction of bromine with sodium .

Uses of group I elements

-

Lithium is used in batteries and in compounds used to treat mental disorder

Sodium is used in some street lamps. Its alloy with potassium is used in nuclear reactor for
material transfer. Sodium ions are used to transfer nerve impulses by nerve cells
Potassium nitrate is used as fertiliser. Potassium ions are used to control water content in blood
and also used to transfer nerve impulses by nerve cells

Assignment
01: (a) Why do you think the DURACELL battery shown to the left is
made using a group I element?
.
(b) Suggest with a reason the group I element likely to have been used in the manufacture of
the DURACELL battery. ..
..
02: (a) Name of the fertiliser to the left. ...
(b) Write down the chemical formula of the fertiliser.
(c) Why do you think the fertiliser is not made using a group I element?
.
(d) Suggest the name of a similar fertiliser made using a group I
element. ..
03: Which group I element is used to manufacture the bulb shown.
[Grand total = 8mks]