VANJARI CLASSES / s – Block Elements / Group 1

Atomic Radius (pm) Down the

Elements Ionic Radius(pm)
group atomic
Li 152 Li+ 76
radius and
ionic radius
Na INCREASING 186 Na+ 102 goes on
increasing
due to
K 227 K+ 138 increase in
number of
Rb 248 Rb+ 152 shells

Cs 265 Cs+ 167

Fr - Fr+ -
VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 1
IONIZATION ENTHALPY OF s – BLOCK ELEMENTS (GROUP 1) ARE LOW
BECAUSE ONLY ONE ELECTRON IS PRESENT IN OUTERMOST SHELL. Thus
increase in atomic size is more effective than increase in nuclear charge.
520
Ionization Enthalpy (k J / mol)

Down the group effective nuclear charge

decreases which is due to increase in
number of shells. Therefore ionization
enthalpy decreases down the group.
419
403

VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 2

METALLIC CRYSTAL

The force of
attraction
between
positively
charged
metal ion and
negatively
charged sea
of delocalised
electrons is
called
metallic bond

Positive metal ion Delocalised electron

VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 3
 MELTING POINT OF s – BLOCK ELEMENTS (GROUP 1) are very
low because metallic bonds in them are weak which is
because of less positive charge density on metal ion.
454 Down the group, the ionic radii of
metallic ions increase. This decreases
the charge density and therefore
electrostatic attraction between
Temperature ( K )

positive metal ions and the delocalized

electrons decrease. This results in
decrease in strength of metallic bonds.

312 302

Thus down the group, melting point decreases.

VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1)
4
 BOILING POINT OF s – BLOCK ELEMENTS (GROUP 1) are very low because
metallic bonds in them are weak which is because of less positive charge
density on metal ion.
1615
Down the group, the ionic radii of
metallic ions increase. This decreases
the charge density and therefore
electrostatic attraction between
positive metal ions and the delocalized
electrons decrease. This results in
Kelvin (K)

1156 decrease in strength of metallic bonds.

1032
961
944

Thus down the group, boiling point decreases.

VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1)
5
DENSITY OF s – BLOCK ELEMENTS (Group 1) ARE LOW
Increase in atomic mass is more 1.90 g / cm3
effective than increase in atomic size. 1.53 g / cm3
Every period starts from group 1 with
addition of new shell.
Potassium is
lighter than
0.97 g / cm3 sodium probably
due to an
0.86 g / cm3 unusual increase
in atomic size of
0.53 g / cm3 potassium.
LIGHTER THAN
WATER

VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 6

HYDRATION ENTHALPIES. Negative values indicate tendency to get hydrated
in aqueous solution. More negative value, more tendency to get hydrated.
-506
KJ/mol

-406 Smaller the

KJ/mol ion, more is
the charge
density and
-330 thus greater
KJ/mol the tendency
to get
hydrated .
-310 Less difference (around
KJ/mol
-300 k J / mol)

-276
KJ/mol
VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 7
Alkali metals Standard electrode
potentials (V)
M+ / M
Standard electrode
Li potential shows the -3.04
ability of electrode to Negative values
gain electron when indicate that their
Na electrode is prepared by -2.714 metal electrodes
dipping metal in its salt do not have
solution. ability to gain
K -2.925 electrons i.e.
have ability to
Cell is made up of two lose electrons.
electrode. One
Rb electrode have ability to -2.930
to gain electrons and
another have ability to
Cs lose electrons. -2.927
VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 8
OXIDATION STATE
As alkali metal atoms have only one electron in the valence
shell, they exhibit an oxidation state of +1. By losing one
electron, these alkali metals achieve a noble gas configuration.

ELECTROPOSITIVE CHARACTER
Due to low ionisation energy, alkali elements lose electrons
very easily. Hence they are strongly electropositive.
The electropositive character increases as we go down the
group from Li to Cs due to increase in atomic size.

VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 9

 REDUCING PROPERTY
Alkali metals Standard electrode The alkali metals have low
potentials (V) values (negative values) of
M+ / M
electrode potential and
Li -3.04 therefore have a strong
tendency to lose electrons and
Na -2.714 act as a good reducing agent.
The electrode potential of
K -2.925 lithium is lowest (more
negative) and thus lithium is
Rb -2.930 strongest reducing agent.

Cs -2.927

VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 10

CONDUCTIVITY
Alkali metals are good conductors of heat and electricity
due to the presence of loosely held valence electrons
which are free to move throughout the metal structure.

NATURE OF BOND FORMED

All the alkali metals form ionic compounds. The ionic character
increases from Li to Cs because the alkali metals have low value
of ionisation energies which decreases down the group and
hence the tendency to give electron increases to form
electropositive ion.

VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 11

 ANOMALOUS PROPERTIES OF LITHIUM
Reason : 1) Smallest atomic size 2) Greater charge / radius ratio
3) Highest ionizing energy 4) Non availability of d-electrons in its valence
shell.
5) Strong metallic bonding due to its small size.
6) Covalent character of its compound.
LITHIUM OTHER ALKALI METALS
1) Highest melting point and 1) Melting point and boiling
boiling point. point is lower than Li.
2) Strongest reducing agent. 2) Strength of reducing agent is
less than Li.
3) Other alkali metal hydride is
3) Form most stable metal less stable.
hydride ( due to small size).
4) Other alkali metal hydroxides
4) Lithium hydroxide is very are strong bases and are
weak base and is sparingly highly soluble in water.
soluble in water. 5) Other alkali metal can be
5) Lithium is very hard. easily cut with knife.
VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 12
LITHIUM OTHER ALKALI METALS
6) Lithium carbonate 6) Carbonates of other alkali
decomposes on heating to metals are stable to heat.
evolve CO2 gas.
Li2CO3 → Li2O + CO2
7) Lithium is the only alkali 7) Other alkali metals do not form
metal which combines with nitride.
nitrogen directly on heating
to form lithium nitride(Li3N).
6Li + N2 → 2Li3N
8) Lithium forms monoxide (Li2O) 8) Sodium form peroxide(Na2O2) and
with oxygen. other alkali metals forms super
oxides (KO2) with oxygen.
9) On heating with ammonia, lithium 9) On heating with ammonia, the
forms imide(Li2NH). other alkali metals form amides
(MNH2). (group 1)
VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements 13
CHEMICAL REACTIVITY
REACTION WITH OXYGEN
Alkali metals tarnish in air due to formation of their oxides.
They burn vigorously in oxygen forming oxides.
Lithium forms monoxide (4Li + O2 → 2Li2O).
Sodium forms peroxide (2Na + O2 → Na2O2)
Other metals forms superoxide (M + O2 → 2MO2)
Reason: The formation of oxides depend on the sizes of cations and anions
involved.
In general, a smaller cation can stabilize a smaller anion while a larger cation
can stabilize the larger anion.
The size of the Li+ ion is smallest and has a strong positive field around it and
therefore Li+ combines with small anion oxide ion O-2 with strong negative
field around it. Thus Li form monoxide
Na+ ion due to bigger size has weaker positive field around it and therefore
can stabilize peroxide ion O2-2 which also has weaker negative field around it.
Thus Na form peroxide Na2O2.
VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 14
The remaining metal cation are still bigger and forms superoxide O2 -
CHEMICAL REACTIVITY
REACTION WITH WATER
Alkali metals reacts with water as
2M + 2H2O → 2M+ + 2OH- + H2 ( M = alkali metal)
Example: 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2 (g)
The hydroxides of alkali metals are strong base because of their
low ionization energy.
BASIC STRENGTH OF HYDROXIDE INCREASES FROM LiOH TO CsOH
DUE TO DECREASE IN IONISATION ENERGY

IONIZATION
ENERGY

VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 15

CHEMICAL REACTIVITY
REACTION WITH DIHYDROGEN
All alkali metals combines with hydrogen (H2) to form hydrides of
formula MH.
2M + H2 → 2M+H- + H2
2Na(s) + H2(g) → 2NaH(s) + H2
The ionic character of hydride increases from Li to Cs.
REACTION WITH HALOGENS
Alkali metals combine with halogens directly to form metal halides.
2M + X2 → 2MX
2Na(s) + Cl2(g) → 2NaCl(s)
Lithium halide is slightly covalent in nature due to its high polarization
capability ( capability to distort arrangement of electrons of anion)
Reactivity of alkali metals towards halogen increases down the
group.

VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 16

IMPORTANT COMPOUNDS OF SODIUM
Sodium carbonate Sodium hydroxide Sodium hydrogen Sodium chloride
Na2CO3 NaOH carbonate NaHCO3 NaCl

It is readily soluble It is white On heating it gives Sodium chloride

in water. It is also translucent solid. Na2CO3 and CO2. melts at 1018K. It
called washing It melts at 591 K. It It aqueous has a solubility of
soda. readily soluble in solution is alkaline 36.09 in 100g of
On heating water and forms due to hydrolysis. water at 273K.
decahydrate loses strong alkaline When heated with
water molecules solution. conc.H2SO4 and
to form The solution of MnO2 it liberates
monohydrate. sodium hydroxide chlorine gas.
Above 373K, at the surface 2NaCl + MnO2 +
monohydrate react with CO2 in 2H2SO4 → MnSO4
become the atmosphere to + Na2SO4 + 2H2O +
completely form Cl2
anhydrous and Na2CO3
changes into white
powder called
soda ash. VANJARI CLASSES, NASIK. s - Block Elements (group 1) 17