Group 1 Elements

Group 1 elements
 Lithium,Li  Group 1
 Sodium, Na elements are
 Potassium, K known as alkali
metal.
 Rubidium, Rb

 Caesium, Cs

 Francium, Fr
 Physical Properties
Element Proton Atomic MP BP Density Electronegativit
number radius (ºC) (ºC) (g cm-3) y
(nm)
Li 3 0.15 181 1347 0.53 1.0

Na 11 0.19 98 886 0.97 0.9

K 19 0.23 64 774 0.86 0.8

Rb 37 0.25 39 688 1.53 0.8

Cs 55 0.26 28 678 1.87 0.7

All alkali metals are
 grey solids with shiny silvery surface
when freshly cut.
 soft solids & can be easily cut.
 have low densities as compared to
heavy metals.
 good conductors of heat & electricity.
 have low melting & boiling points as
compared to heavy metals ( Cu : mp
1083 ºC, bp 2567 ºC).
Down the group,
 Atomic radius ↑

the number of shells occupied with e ↑.

 Both mp & bp ↓

metallic bonding between atoms

becomes weaker, less heat energy
required to overcome the metallic bonding
during melting & boiling point.
 density ↑

increase in atomic mass > increase in

volume.
 alkali metals become softer
 Chemical Properties
 Very reactive – must be kept in paraffin oil.
 Alkali metal + H2O → metal hydroxide + H2
2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2
 Alkali metal + O2 → metal oxide
4Na + O2 → 2Na2O
 Alkali metal + Cl2 → metal chloride
2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl
 Li burns slowly with a red flame.
 Na burns rapidly & brightly with a
yellow flame.
 K burns very rapidly & brightly with a
lilac flame.
 Reactivity of alkali metals
 Increases down the group.
Li Na K Rb Cs Fr
more reactive
 Reactivity is measured by the ease of
its atom to lose its single valence
electron to achieve stable noble gas
electron arrangement (duplet / octet).
 Li → Li+ + e-
(2.1) (2)

 Na → Na+ + e-
(2.8.1) (2.8)

 K → K + + e-
(2.8.8.1) (2.8.8)
 Atomic size ↑ from Li to Fr.
 Single valence e becomes further
away from nucleus.
 This cause the single valence e to be
more weakly pulled by the nucleus.
 Thus, the single valence e can be
released more easily down the group.
 Reactivity of alkali metals ↑ down the
group.
Electropositivity of alkali metals
 Electropositivity is the ability to lose e
to form positive ion.
 Electropositivity of alkali metals ↑
down the group.
 Strength as reducing agent ↑ down
the group.
 Safety precautions
in handling G1 elements
 Avoid handling with bare hands.
 Wear safety goggles & gloves during
the experiment.
 Li, Na & K must be kept in paraffin oil.

 Rb, Cs & Fr are stored in sealed

glass tubes to prevent reacting with
oxygen & vapor in the air.
Stopping halfway is, in truth,
more difficult & tiring than
persevering on the path
toward the final goal.

~ Still Thoughts