Alkali Metals

Alkali metals are in group 1 of the periodic table, on the left.

H

Li

Be

Na Mg K Rb Cs Fr Ca Sc

Of these alkali metals, francium (Fr) is a very rare, radioactive and unstable element. This makes it difficult to study.
Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni

B
Al

C
Si

N
P

O
S Se

F
Cl Br

Ne
Ar Kr

Cu Zn Ga Ge As

Sr
Ba

Y
La

Zr Nb Mo Tc
Hf Ta W

Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd
Ir Pt Au Hg ?

In
Tl ?

Sn Sb
Pb ? Bi ?

Te
Po ?

I
At ?

Xe
Rn ?

Re Os

Ra Ac

Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg

The alkali metals are a group of chemical elements in the periodic table with very similar properties: they are all shiny, soft, silvery, highly reactive metals at standard temperature and pressure and readily lose their outermost electron to form cations with charge.

Lower densities than other metals One loosely bound valence electron Largest atomic radii in their periods Low ionization energies Low electronegativities Highly reactive

The alkali metals generally become more dense down the group.
Element Density (g/cm3)

Lithium Sodium Potassium Rubidium Caesium

0.53

0.97
0.86 1.53 1.87

All alkali metals have 1 electron in their outer shell. lithium 2,1 sodium 2,8,1

potassium 2,8,8,1

The reactivity of alkali metals increases down the group.

increase in reactivity
Li Na

K
Rb Cs

The size of each elements atoms, and the number of full electron shells, increases down the group.

The melting point of alkali metals decreases down the group.

Element Melting point (C)

Lithium Sodium Potassium Rubidium Caesium

181 98 64 39 28

When alkali metals are heated and added to a jar of oxygen, they burn fiercely with a coloured flame.

lithium burns with a red flame

sodium burns with an orange flame

potassium burns with a lilac flame

 is a soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the alkali metal group of chemical elements. Lithium and its compounds have several industrial applications, including heat-resistant glass and ceramics, high strength-toweight alloys used in aircraft, lithium batteries and lithium-ion batteries.

 Compounds Available:
Lithium Acetate (LiCH3COO) Synonym: Acetic Acid Lithium Salt Use: buffer for gel electrophoresis of DNA and RNA

Lithium Oxide (Li2O) Synonym: Lithium Monoxide, Lithia Use: flux for ceramic glazes

Lithium Nitrate (LiNO3 ) Use: manufacture of red colored fireworks and flares Lithium Aluminate (LiAlO2) Synonym: lithium aluminium oxide, Lithium alumanoylolate Use: inert electrolyte support material of molten carbonate fuel cells

Lithium Perchlorate (LiClO4 ) Synonym: Perchloric acid, lithium salt Use: source of oxygen in chemical oxygen generators

 Pharmaceutical Preparations:

Lithium Citrate (Li3C6H5O7)

Litarex is an international brand name for lithium citrate used to treat and prevent episodes of mania in people with bipolar disorder (manic depressive disorder).

Lithium Carbonate ( Li2CO3 ) Eskalith is commonly prescribed to treat bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression).

 It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals; its only stable isotope is Na.

Various industries including petroleum, chemicals, soaps, textiles and paper have found sodium compounds extremely beneficial for their processes.

Compounds Available: Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3 ) Synonym: baking soda, bread soda, cooking soda, and bicarbonate of soda Use: relieves sour stomach Sodium Peroxide (Na2O2 ) Synonym: Sodium dioxide, Flocool, Solozone,Disodium peroxide Use: used to bleach wood pulp for the production of paper and textiles Sodium Chlorate (NaClO3 ) Synonym: Sodium chlorate(V) Use: used for making ClO2

Sodium Thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) Synonym: Sodium hyposulfite, Hyposulphite of soda Use: used in components of hand warmers and other chemical heating pads Sodium Silicate (Na2SiO3 ) Synonym: Liquid glass, Waterglass Use: used in cements, passive fire protection, refractories, textile and lumber processing and automobile

 Pharmaceutical Preparations: Sodium Sulfate (Na2SO4 ) is also known as Glaubers Salt, Thenardite Moviprep - is an osmotic laxative indicated for cleansing of the colon as a preparation for colonoscopy in adults 18 years or older.

Sodium Valproate ( C8H15NaO2 )

Epilim - medicine that is used mainly to treat epilepsy.

is a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive with water, generating sufficient heat to ignite the hydrogen emitted in the reaction. Uses:

fertilizers potassium is an essential element for plants. It is usually added as a chloride, sulfate , nitrate or carbonate. fireworks and explosives as potassium nitrate and potassium chlorate. food preservation as potassium nitrate.

Compounds Available: Potassium Chlorate (KClO3) Synonym: Potcrate Use: used as an oxidizing agent, disinfectant, explosives and fireworks Potassium Sulfate (K2SO4) Synonym: Potassium sulphate Use: used as fertilizers Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) Synonym: caustic potash Use: manufacture of biodiesel and soaps, petroleum refineries

Potassium Carbonate (K2CO3) Synonym: Potash, pearl ash Use: used in the production of soap and glass Potassium Nitrate (KNO3 ) Synonym: Salt petre, Nitrate of potash, Vesta powder Use: used as fertilizers, food additive, rocket propellant and fireworks

Pharmaceutical Preparations:
Potassium Chloride (KCl) is also known as Klorvess Aldactone used to treat patients with hypokalemia. Potassium Iodide (KI) is also known as Iodide of Potash Yodefan used to treat lung conditions or disease in which mucus complicates the condition.

Potassium Citrate (C6H5K3O7 ) is also known as Kaliksir, Urocit-K - used to make the urine less acidic.

 is highly reactive, with properties similar to those of other elements in Group 1, such as very rapid oxidation in air. it is used in infrared radiation producing pyrotechnic compositions as a colorant and an oxidizer in decoys and illumination flares. It is also used as a raw material for preparation of other rubidium compounds and rubidium metal, for manufacture of catalysts and in scintillation counters. It finds uncommon use in fireworks to produce a red-violet color.

 Compounds Available: Rubidium Carbonate (Rb2CO3 ) Use: used in glass making Rubidium Hydroxide (RbOH) Use: used in scientific research Rubidium Iodide (RbI) Use: used in infrared radiation producing pyrotechnic compositions as colorant and oxidizer Rubidium Nitrate (RbNO3 ) Use: compound with a melting point of 642 C

 Pharmaceutical Preparation: Rubidium Chloride (RbCl) Use: depressant

It is a soft, silvery-gold alkali metal with a melting point of 28 C (82 F), which makes it one of only five elemental metals that are liquid at (or near) room temperature.

Caesium is used in atomic clocks, removing air traces from vacuum tubes, and in ion propulsion systems.

 Compounds Available:
Cesium Iodide (CsI) Use: used as an input phosphor of an xray image intensifier tube Cesium Chloride (CsCl) Use: used in isopycnic centrifugation Caesium bromide (CsBr) Use: used in optics as a beamsplitter component in wide band spectrophotometer

 Caesium hydroxide (CsOH) Use: used as a powerful base

Caesium nitrate (CsNO3) Use: same with Rb NO3

 It was formerly known as eka-caesium and actinium K. It is one of the two least electronegative elements, the other being caesium.

Chapter Quiz

 What is the family name for the Group 1 or 1A elements? A: alkaline earth metals B: transition metals C: alkali metals D: halogens

 Alkali metals have how many valence electrons? A: 4 B: 3 C: 2 D: 1

 Because of the one valence electron, alkali metals are __________________ reactive. A: not B: highly C: somewhat

 Which of the alkali metals is the most reactive? A: lithium B: potassium C: francium D: cesium

 Lithium is used in each of the following ways except... A: batteries B: medications for bipolar disorder C: airplane parts D: all of the above

 6. Also known as baking soda? 7. What is the international brand name for lithium citrate? 8. What is the synonym name of NaSO4? 9. Give 1 property of Alkali Metals. 10. Ehat is the flame color of Potassium?