Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León

Facultad de Ciencias Químicas

Licenciatura en Química Industrial
Inorganic Chemistry

Reactivity in Alkali Metals

Dr. Víctor Gimenez

Homero Medrano Garza
1731085

March 8th, 2018

Introduction
Group 1 from the periodic table, also known as alkali metals, are
characterized by reacting vigorously with water to produce an alkaline
solution. The word "alkali" received its name from the Arabic word "al
qali," meaning "from ashes", since these elements react with water to
form hydroxide ions, creating alkaline solutions. The alkali metals
include: lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium.
They need to be kept in oil so they don’t react with water and air. The
general reaction from every metal in this group and water it’s the
detachment of hydrogen in a gas state and the formation of the metal
hydroxide. Sodium metal under oil.
Reactivity
The elements have similar properties, which one of them is that they
have one electron in the outer shell. Lithium, sodium, and potassium
form a positive ion with a +1 charge, completing a noble gas
configuration. The reactivity in this group will increase as you go
down, in order that it is easier to take away the valence electrons, since
the valence electron gets further the nucleus, it’ll need less energy to
Rubidium metal
take away the electron.

 Lithium
It floats, being fizzed steady. Water dissolves lithium.

2𝐿𝑖(𝑠) + 2𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙) → 2𝐿𝑖𝑂𝐻𝑎𝑞 + 𝐻2(𝑔)

 Sodium
The sodium melts, forming a sphere on the surface. It fizzes rapidly, and the
hydrogen produced may burn with an orange flame before the sodium disappears.

2𝑁𝑎(𝑠) + 2𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙) ⟶ 2𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐻2(𝑔)

 Potassium
The metal melts and floats. It moves around very quickly on the surface of the
water. The hydrogen ignites instantly. The metal is also set on fire, with sparks and
a lilac flame. There is sometimes a small explosion at the end of the reaction.

2𝐾(𝑠) + 2𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙) ⟶ 2𝐾𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐻2(𝑔)

  Rubidium and Cesium
Both ignite with air, producing superoxides.

𝑅𝑏(𝑠) + 𝑂2(𝑔) ⟶ 𝑅𝑏𝑂2

𝐶𝑠(𝑠) + 𝑂2(𝑔) ⟶ 𝐶𝑠𝑂2

The hydroxide solutions formed within these reactions, are strong alkalis, turning universal
indicator into purple. Strong alkalis are corrosive.

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m55kgyApYrY

References
https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zvydmp3/revision
https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Inorganic_Chemistry/Descriptive_Chemistry/Elements_Or
ganized_by_Block/1_s-
Block_Elements/Group__1%3A_The_Alkali_Metals/2Reactions_of_the_Group_1_Elemen
ts/Reactions_of_Group_I_Elements_with_Oxygen