Experiment :

Hands – on and Observation

Reactivity of Group 1
Elements
Aim : to investigate the reactions of lithium,
sodium and potassium with water
Apparatus : 250cm3 beaker, watch glass,
forceps, fiilter paper.

Materials : Lithium, Li
Sodium, Na
Potassium, K
Distilled water, H2O
Universal indicator
Litmus paper
 Procedure :

 1. Use a sharp knife to cut a small piece of

lithium ( about the size of grain of rice )
which is kept in paraffin. Take out the lithium
using a pair of forceps and place it on a filter
paper. Fold a filter paper over lithium and
press using forceps until there is no oily
mark on the filter paper.
 2. Add 10cm3 of distilled water into a clean
beaker.

 3. Add three drops of universal indicator or a

piece of red litmus into the beaker and note
its colour.

 4. Slowly drop the clean piece of lithium into

the distilled water in the beaker.
Immediately cover the beaker with a watch
glass. Observe what happens.
 5.Your teacher will repeat the experiment
with a smaller piece of sodium and then
with very small piece of potassium.
Compare the reactivity of each of these
elements with water.
Observation :

Element Reactivity* Colour change of Infrence

the indicator
solution
Li

Na

*very vigorous/vigorous/ less vigorous

 Discussion :
1. Do lithium, sodium and potassium react with
water?
2. Which elements is the least reactive and which
elements is the most reactive?
3. Is the solution from the reaction of lithium with
water neutral, acidic or alkaline?
4. What are the products of the reaction of lithium,
sodium and potassium with water? Write an
equations for the reaction.
5. Arrange lithium, sodium and potassium in
increasing orders according to their reactivity.
Conclusion :

 Metal in Group 1 shows ________ chemical

properties.

 The reactivity of elements in Group 1

_______ _____ down the group.