When the alkali metals react with chlorine, they react vigorously to form white metal chloride salts. This final solution is alkaline, which is why they are called ‘ alkali metals ’! Alkali metals reacting with chlorine īy the end of the reactions, all of the alkali metals dissolve in the water, producing metal hydroxides. It melts instantly as the potassium reacts so vigorously and quickly.Īs you can see from the reactions getting more vigorous, the reactivity increases as you go down group 1. The lilac colour comes from the potassium ions formed. The hydrogen gas produced ignites as potassium reacts so vigorously. The fizzing is from the hydrogen gas produced when lithium reacts with the water. Moves around the water, fizzing until it finally dissolves in the water Because they only need to lose 1 electron, it is very easy for an alkali metal to lose it to end up with a full outer shell, then becoming stable. This way, they are left only with the next outermost shell which is already full (remember electrons can only fill up the next shell if the previous one is completely full). For alkali metals which all have only 1 electron in their outer shell, the quickest way for them to obtain a full outer shell is by losing this 1 electron. That is their life goal! The way that atoms achieve this is by getting a full outer shell. In all reactions, all elements want to become stable. The way an atom of any element reacts depends on its electron configuration. They even react vigorously with water.Įlements in the same group have similar properties due to their electron configuration electrons are responsible for how an element reacts and what properties they have.Īll elements in group 1 have 1 electron in their outermost shell and as a result, they have similar properties.
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