Reactions
Reaction with Oxygen
The alkali metals all react with oxygen, and form different kinds of oxides depending on where in the group it is.
Reaction with Water
All alkali metals react vigorously with cold water, to produce a metal hydroxide XOH and hydrogen gas. The speed and violence of the reaction increases as the reactivity increases in the group.
Reaction with Chlorine
The alkali metals physically react similarly with chlorine as they do with oxygen. In the reactions with each alkali metal a solid white salt XCl is produced.
Reaction with Hydrogen
All alkali metals react with hydrogen to produce hydrides.
Reaction with Acid
The alkali metals react with acid to produce a salt and hydrogen gas.
The alkali metals all react with oxygen, and form different kinds of oxides depending on where in the group it is.
- Lithium forms simple oxides with the formula X2O
- Sodium forms peroxides with the formula X2O2
- Potassium, rubidium, and cesium form superoxides with the formula XO2
Reaction with Water
All alkali metals react vigorously with cold water, to produce a metal hydroxide XOH and hydrogen gas. The speed and violence of the reaction increases as the reactivity increases in the group.
- For example when lithium is added to water, it fizzes and becomes smaller until it disappears. Lithium hydroxide is produced. The reaction can be shown by the equation 2Li(s) + 2H2O(l) --> 2LiOH(aq) + H2(g)
Reaction with Chlorine
The alkali metals physically react similarly with chlorine as they do with oxygen. In the reactions with each alkali metal a solid white salt XCl is produced.
- For example when hot lithium is lowered into a jar with chlorine, white powder lithium chloride is produced. The reaction can be shown by the equation 2Li(s) + Cl2(g) --> 2LiCl(s)
Reaction with Hydrogen
All alkali metals react with hydrogen to produce hydrides.
- For example, if potassium is reacted with hydrogen, potassium hydride is produced. The reaction can be shown by the equation 2K(l) + H2(g) --> 2KH(s)
Reaction with Acid
The alkali metals react with acid to produce a salt and hydrogen gas.
- For example, if sodium is reacted with hydrochloric acid, the salt sodium chloride will be produced. The reaction can be shown by the equation 2Na(s) + 2HCl(l) --> 2NaCl(aq) + H2(g)
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group1/reacto2.htmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_pre_2011/periodic_table/group1rev3.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_pre_2011/periodic_table/group1rev4.shtmlhttp://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Inorganic_Chemistry/Descriptive_Chemistry/s-Block_Elements/Group__1%3A_The_Alkali_Metals
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_pre_2011/periodic_table/group1rev4.shtmlhttp://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Inorganic_Chemistry/Descriptive_Chemistry/s-Block_Elements/Group__1%3A_The_Alkali_Metals