Alkali metals

Alkali metals

1. Group 1

2. Soft

3. Shiny when cut(reacts with air to go dull)

4. Reactions with Oxygen

   • lithium + oxygen ---> lithium oxide
     • 4Li + O2 -----> 2Li2O
   • Need to be stored in oil
   • Reactions become progressively more violent down the group

5. Reactions with water

   • Alkali metals react more violent with water
   • lithium + water ---> lithium hydroxide + hydrogen
     • 2Li + 2H2O ----> 2LiOH + H2
   • Reactions get progressively more violent down the group
   • Potassium creates heat as it reacts with water to produce hydrogen that then gets lit to produce a lilac flame

6. Reactions with halogens

   • lithium + chlorine ----> lithium chloride
     • 2Li + Cl2 ---> 2LiCl
   • Reactions become progressively more violent down the group
   • lithium reacts with chlorine gas to produce the salt lithium chloride