Alkali Metals +
Hydrogen
Group 1
Ian Gallagher
Lalit Akella
Alex Strand
Chemistry Honors Period 8
Periodic Table Project
General Information
• All are Alkali metals and are solid (excluding Hydrogen, which is a
gas)
• Group 1 of the periodic table
• Very reactive metals
• Rarely occur freely in nature (always with other elements as a
compound)
• One e- in the highest energy level of each element in this group. All
of their electron configurations are ns1
• Malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity
• Alkali comes from an Arabic word that means “Ashes.” Sodium and
potassium compounds are present in the ashes of burned plants.
• Softer than most other metals. They all can be cut by a knife.
• They can explode if exposed to water.
• As their atomic number increases, their reactivity increases.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hydrogen-H
Electron Configuration – 1s1
It is the lightest and most abundant element and it makes up about 90% of the universe by
weight.
Hydrogen gas was used in lighter-than-air balloons but the flammability of it was dangerous. (i.e.
The Hindenburg)
State of matter= Gas
Nonmetal
Uses:
–
–
–
•
Chemical Properties:
–
•
Welding
Rocket Fuel
Production of hydrochloric acid
Very reactive
Physical Poperties:
– Colorless, tasteless, odorless
– Water soluble
– Liquefication Temp.= -252°C (21 K)
Lithium-Li
• Electron Configuration – 1s2 2s1
• It is believed that lithium ions interfere with the complex chemical
reactions that relay and amplify messages to the cells of the brain.
• Lithium is about half as dense as water. Lithium metal is the least
dense metal.
• Uses:
– Various nuclear applications
– Lithium hydroxide is used in Space Vehicles to absorb carbon dioxide
• Chemical Properties:
– Rapid oxidation
• Physical properties:
– Silvery after freshly cut, but tarnishes after about a minute
– Very low melting point (181.5°C)
– soft
Sodium-Na
• Electron Configuration – 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
• Used in salt, glass, agriculture and medicine
• Considered most important alkali metal in the
eyes of the commercial world
• Chemical Properties:
Turns gray when cut and exposed to air
• Physical Properties:
– Very low melting point (97.5°C)
Potassium-K
•
•
•
•
•
•
Electron Configuration – 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1
Floats in water
Used in fertilizers, baking, and photography
Potassium Carbonate used to make screens
Potassium Hydroxide makes liquid soaps and detergents
Potassium Chloride is used in medical drips and saline
injections
• Chemical Properties:
Tarnishes within minutes of being exposed to air from a
metallic look color to silvery - white
• Physical Properties:
Melting point – 63.2°C
Rubidium-Rb
• Electron Configuration – 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2
3d10 4p6 5s1
• Used to make a purple color in glasses, ceramics,
and fireworks.
• Chemical Properties:
Ignites spontaneously in air
• Physical Properties:
Melting point of 39°C
• Electron Configuration – 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2
4d10 5p6 6s1
• Name comes from latin word caeius which means sky blue
referring to its line spectrum
• Used in atomic clocks and cesium nitrate is used to make
eyeglasses
• When combined with glass, forms strongest known base,
CsOH which attacks glass
• Chemical Properties:
Oxidizes very rapidly
• Physical Properties:
Melting point – 28.5°C or 83.3°F
• Electron Configuration – 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6
4s23d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p6 7s1
• Francium is radioactive
• There is no more tan 1 ounce of Francium in the
Earths crust at one time
• Francium is the second rarest element in the
crust after astatine
• Physical Properties:
Melting point – 27°C or 81°F
Francium
CONCLUSION
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uixxJtJPVXk
 In order to protect the alkali, they must be stored in mineral
oil