Chemistry - Group 1 elements

The Group 1 elements

• Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Caesium and Francium.
• Lithium, Sodium and Potassium are the ones taught about at GCSE.
• The order of reactivity is potassium > sodium > lithium, the metals become more reactive as they go down the group.
• These three all have similar properties:
  • Good conductors of electricity and heat.
  • Soft, can be cut with a knife.
  • Low melting and boiling points (compared with other metals).
  • Low densities (all float on water).
  • Shiny surfaces…