GCSE Chemistry Unit 3 Revision (3)

Group 1 Elements

• These elements are called the alkali metals because their hydroxides dissolve in water to give an alkaline solution.
• As you go down the group the alkali metals become: 
• 1. bigger atoms because there's an extra full shell of electrons for each row you go down. 
• 2. More reactive because the outer electron is more easily lost because it's further from the nucleus. 
• 3. Higher density - because the atoms have more mass. 
• 4. lower melting and boiling point.
• The alkali metals are very reactive.
• They are lithium, potassium, sodium, francium, caesium and rubidium. 
• The alkali metals all have one outer electron.
• The alkali metals all form 1+ ion.
• The alkali metals always form ionic compounds because they are so keen to lose the…