Trends within the periodic table

Group 1/alkali metals

In group 1 as you go down the group:

• The more reactive the element
• The lower its boiling and melting point.

The elements in group 1:

• are metals with a low density (first three less dense than water)
• react with non-metals to form ionic compounds where metal ion carries charge of +1 (lost electron) The compounds are white solids that dissolve in water to form colourless solutions.
• React with water to release hydrogen
• React with water to form hydroxides that dissolve in water to give alkaline solutions.

Transition elements

Compared with group 1 the transition elements:

• Higher melting…