ALKALI METALS ALKALI EARTH METALS
1) Occurence Never found in free state in nature
Highly reactive due to their large size
and low I.E.
Silvery white, soft and light metals
2) Electronic G.E.C - [noble gas] ns1
configurati Li (3) – [He] 2s1
on Na (11) – [Ne] 3s1
K (19) – [Ar] 4s1
Rb (37) – [Kr] 5s1
Cs (65) – [Xe] 6s1
Fr (87) – [Rn] 7s1
3) Oxidation +1
State
4) Ionization Li > Na > K > Rb > Cs
Enthalpy
5) Ionic Size Li+ < Na+ < K+ < Rb+ < Cs+
6) Density Li < K < Na < Rb < Cs
7) Melting Li > Na > K > Rb > Cs
Point
8) Boiling Li > Na > K > Rb > Cs
H.E. ∝ size
Point
9) Hydration
Enthalpy Size :
Li+(aq) > Na+(aq) > K+(aq) > Rb+(aq)
> Cs+(aq)
Mobility:
Li+(aq) < Na+(aq) < K+(aq) < Rb+(aq)
< Cs+(aq)
10 Flame test - The alkali metals and their salts
) impart characteristic colour to an
oxidizing flame. This is because the
heat from the flame excites the
outermost orbital electron to a higher
energy level. When the excited
electron comes back to the ground
state, there is emission of radiation in
the visible region of the spectrum
- Alkali metals can therefore, be
detected by the respective flame tests
and can be determined by flame
photometry or atomic absorption
spectroscopy.
- These elements when irradiated with
light, the light energy absorbed may
be sufficient to make an atom lose
electron. This property makes caesium
and potassium useful as electrodes in
photoelectric cells
Li - Crimson Red
Na – Golden Yellow
K - Violet
Rb – Reddish Violet
Cs - Blue
11 Trends of
) salts
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
12 Reactivity - They tarnish in dry air due to
) towards air formation of their oxides which in turn
react with moisture to form
hydroxides.
- Burn vigorously in oxygen forming
oxides.
Diamagnetic
/ Colourless Li – monoxide 4Li + O2 2LiO2
Na – Peroxide 2Na + O2
Na2O2
Paramagneti (used as an oxidizing
c/ yellow- agent)
orange
Colour K, Rb, Cs – Superoxide M + O2
- Superoxide MO2
ion is stable (used in
only in the submarines)
presence of
large (The oxidation state of alkali metals in
cations. all these oxides is is +1)
- The increasing stability of peroxide
or superoxide as the size of the metal
ion increases is due to the stabilisation
of large anions by larger cations
through lattice energy effects.
Lithium shows exceptional behaviour
in reacting directly with nitrogen of air
to form the nitride, Li3N
13 Reactivity 2M + 2H2O 2M+ + 2OH- + H2
) towards Standard potentials: Li < Rb < Cs <
water K < Na
Less vigorous reaction with water as
compared to sodium which has least
negative EΘ among alkali metals (due
to small size and very high hydration
energy of lithium)
14 Reactivity Alkali metal hydrides are ionic solids
) towards with high melting points
hydrogen 2M + H2 673 K (lithium
→
at 1073 K) 2M+H-
They also react with proton donors
such as alcohols, gaseous ammonia,
and alkynes
15 Reactivity React vigorously with halogens to form
) towards ionic halides M+X-
halogens Lithium halide are somewhat
covalent
Reason:
Lithium Iodide – Most covalent
among halides
16 Reducing Alkali metals are strong reducing
) nature agents
Li - Most powerful
Na – Least powerful
With the small size of its ion, Li has
the highest hydration enthalpy which
accounts for its high negative EΘ value
and its high reducing power
17 Solutions They dissolve in liq. NH3 giving deep
) in liquid blue solutions which are conducting in
ammonia nature
Due to ammoniated e- which absorbs
Paramagneti energy in visible region of light and
c and on thus imparts blue colour to soln
standing
slowly M + (x+y)NH3 [M(NH3)x]+ +[e(NH3)Y]-
liberate H2
resulting in M+ + e- + NH3 MNH2(am) + ½ H2
formation of (where ‘am’ denotes solution in
amide ammonia)
In conc. soln, the blue colour changes
to bronze colour and becomes
diamagnetic.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
18 Hydroxides HYDROLYSIS
) Alkali metal oxides are easily
hydrolysed by water to form
hydroxides
Li2O + H2O LiOH
Na2O2 + H2O NaOH + H2O2
KO2 + H2O KOH + H2O2 + O2
19 Salts of oxo - Generally soluble in water and
) acids thermally stable.
- M2CO3 and in most cases MHCO3 also
Acidic proton are highly stable to heat.
is on a - As the electropositive character
hydroxyl increases down the group, the stability
group with of the
an oxo group carbonates and hydrogencarbonates
attached to increases.
the same Li2CO3 < Na2CO3 < K2CO3 < Rb2CO3 <
atom Cs2CO3
- Lithium carbonate is not so stable to
heat;
lithium being very small in size
polarises a
large CO 2−¿¿
3 ion leading to the formation
of more stable Li2O and CO2. Its
hydrogencarbonate does not exist as
a solid.
20 Halides High melting points, colourless
) crystalline solids
