Test: General Characteristics of the Compounds of the Alkali Metals

They give deep blue solution due to the formation of ammonia the metal cations and electrons, the blue colour is due to the oxidation of ammonia electron to higher energy levels and the absorption of photons occurs in the red region of the spectrum.

All alkali halides except Lithium fluoride are soluble in water, this is because Lithium fluoride is soluble in nonpolar solvents as it has a strong covalent bond. Lithium fluoride is represented by the formula LiF.

Two moles of alkali metal reacts with one mole of hydrogen molecule in order to form 2 moles of alkali metal hydride. The correct order of reactivity of alkali metals towards hydrogen is Li < Na < K < Rb < Cs.

Sodium Peroxide acquires yellow colour due to the presence of superoxide as an impurity. Potassium superoxide is used as a source of oxygen in submarines, space shuttles and an emergency breathing apparatus such as oxygen masks.

On exposure to moist air, the surface gets tarnished due to the formation of oxides, hydroxide and carbonates. Few examples are sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium hydroxide etc.

All the alkali metals are good reducing agents due to their low ionization energies. The reducing character of group 1 elements follows the increasing order of Sodium, Potassium, rubidium, Caesium and lithium.

Alkali metals and their salt impart characteristic colours to the flame because the outer electrons get excited to higher energy levels. When the electrons return to the original state, it releases visible light of a characteristic wavelength which provides colour to the flame. The colour of the Flame of the caesium is blue.

The degree of hydration depends upon the size of the cation, smaller the size of the cation, greater is its hydration enthalpy. The relative degree of hydration in an increasing order is Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Rb⁺ > Cs⁺.

The alkali metal atom show only +1 Oxidation State, because of their unipositive Ion at the time the stable noble gas configuration. The atomic volume of alkali metals is the highest in its period and goes on increasing down the group from top to bottom.

Due to low ionization enthalpies, alkali metals are strongly electropositive or metallic in nature and electropositive nature increases from Lithium to caesium due to decrease in ionization enthalpy.

The first ionization enthalpy of alkali metals is the lowest among the elements in their respective periods and increases on moving down the Group. The second ionization enthalpies of the alkali metals are very high because by releasing an electron, ions require noble gas configuration, so removal of the second electron is difficult.

The melting and boiling points of alkali metals are quite low and they decrease down the group due to weakening of their metallic bonds. Francium is the only element in this group which is a liquid at room temperature.

Alkali metals are the elements of group 1. The outer shell configuration of group 1 elements is ns¹, where n is the number of it’s period. Magnesium is not an alkali metal because it’s outer shell configuration is ns².

The alkali metals have the biggest atomic radii in their respective periods, atomic radii increases as we go down the group due to the addition of a new shell in each subsequent step. So the above statement is true.

Due to the presence of loosely held Valence Electrons which are free to move throughout the metal structure, the alkali metals are good conductors of heat and electricity. Electrical conductivity increases from top to bottom in the order, so caesium has the highest electrical conductivity in its group.