Alkali metals: Group 1/1A

electron configuration

ns1

texture

soft, silvery metallic solids (lower mp and bp than any other group of metals) BCC structure

general pattern

Large radii, low densities, strong RA

Li difference

Is different because of its high charge to size ratio; Li salts are less soluble in water than Na or K because Li is more covalent than Na or K.

what do group 1 metals react with hydrogen (H2 gas) to form?

ionic hydrides

what do group 1 metals react with halogens to form?

ionic halides

Lithium reacts with oxygen (O2 gas) to form?

oxide (O^2-); 4Li(s) +O2(g) -> 2Li2O(s)

Sodium reacts with oxygen (O2 gas) to form?

Peroxide (O2^2-); 2Na(s) +O2(g) -> Na2O2 (s)

K,Rb,Cs react with (O2 gas) to give?

MO2 a superoxide ion (O2^-); K(s) +O2(g) -> KO2 (s)