When an alkali metal is placed in water it will float and produce a gas like hydrogen which ignites in the presence of oxygen - producing a flame. The reactions get more and more vigorous as you move down the group.
I may only be a grade 9 student but I think I may know this. Lithium, Sodium and Potassium are HIGHLY reactive to water. Lithium lightly sizzles when it reacts with water, and it produces a small amount of gas. Sodium reacts a little more, it bubbles on the water and creates a large amount of gas. Potassium has the most violent reaction to water, it actually pops when it comes into contact. It really explodes when you put it in water. It almost produces a red flame on top of the water.
So you see, they are ordered by the level of reactivity.
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Francium is the most reactive and electronegative chemical element; unfortunately is extremely rare and currently not available for chemical experiments. Also is very radioactive.
The increasing order of reactivity with water is: Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Caesium, Francium.
The reactivity of chemical elements is controlled by their electronegativity; this parameter is decreasing from lithium to francium. The minimal electronegativity is equivalent to maximal reactivity.
The reactivity of alkali metals increases as you move down Group 1 from lithium to francium. This trend is due to the decreasing ionization energy, which makes it easier for the alkali metals to lose their outermost electron and become more reactive.
The reactivity of alkali metals in Group IA increases as you move down the group from lithium to cesium. This trend is primarily due to the decreasing ionization energy, which makes it easier for these metals to lose their outermost electron. As the atomic radius increases, the outer electron is further from the nucleus and experiences less electrostatic attraction, leading to higher reactivity. Therefore, cesium is more reactive than lithium.
The reactivity of metals with water generally follows the trend: more reactive metals (e.g. alkali metals) react vigorously with water to form metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas, while less reactive metals (e.g. copper, silver) do not react with water at room temperature. As you move down group 1 of the periodic table (from lithium to francium), reactivity with water increases due to the decreasing ionization energy and increasing atomic size.
As you move left to right across the periodic table, the reactivity of metals generally decreases. This trend occurs because the atomic number increases, leading to a stronger positive charge in the nucleus, which attracts electrons more effectively. As a result, it becomes more difficult for these metals to lose electrons and engage in reactions. Consequently, alkali metals on the far left are highly reactive, while transition metals and other metals further right are less so.
As you go down Group 1 (alkali metals), reactivity increases due to the lower ionization energy, making it easier for these metals to lose their outermost electron. In contrast, Group 2 (alkaline earth metals) also shows an increase in reactivity down the group, but the trend is less pronounced compared to Group 1. This is because while ionization energy decreases, the presence of two outer electrons means that the reactivity is not solely dependent on losing one electron. Overall, both groups exhibit increasing reactivity down the group, but the rate of change is stronger in Group 1.
The reactivity of alkali metals increases as you move down Group 1 from lithium to francium. This trend is due to the decreasing ionization energy, which makes it easier for the alkali metals to lose their outermost electron and become more reactive.
The reactivity of alkali metals in Group IA increases as you move down the group from lithium to cesium. This trend is primarily due to the decreasing ionization energy, which makes it easier for these metals to lose their outermost electron. As the atomic radius increases, the outer electron is further from the nucleus and experiences less electrostatic attraction, leading to higher reactivity. Therefore, cesium is more reactive than lithium.
The metals listed are all alkali metals or alkali-earth metals. The periodic trend for these groups is: as you move down the group/family, reactivity increases. The alkali metals will be more reactive than the respective alkali-earth metals.Sodium and lithium are alkali metals, so you can organize them first. Sodium is further down in the family than lithium, so we can say that sodium is the most reactive out of the group, followed by lithium. Then we have barium and radium left. Radium is slightly more reactive than barium due to its position, so it is third and barium is fourth.
The reactivity of metals with water generally follows the trend: more reactive metals (e.g. alkali metals) react vigorously with water to form metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas, while less reactive metals (e.g. copper, silver) do not react with water at room temperature. As you move down group 1 of the periodic table (from lithium to francium), reactivity with water increases due to the decreasing ionization energy and increasing atomic size.
highly reactive, tarnish easily, low melting points, soft, low density, some have weak radiation also it is very flammable in water
As you move left to right across the periodic table, the reactivity of metals generally decreases. This trend occurs because the atomic number increases, leading to a stronger positive charge in the nucleus, which attracts electrons more effectively. As a result, it becomes more difficult for these metals to lose electrons and engage in reactions. Consequently, alkali metals on the far left are highly reactive, while transition metals and other metals further right are less so.
Metals Period - reactivity decreases as you go from left to right across a period.Group - reactivity increases as you go down a group Why? The farther to the left and down the periodic chart you go, the easier it is for electrons to be given or taken away, resulting in higher reactivity.Non-metals Period - reactivity increases as you go from the left to the right across a period.Group - reactivity decreases as you go down the group. Why? The farther right and up you go on the periodic table, the higher the electronegativity, resulting in a more vigorous exchange of electron.
As you go down Group 1 (alkali metals), reactivity increases due to the lower ionization energy, making it easier for these metals to lose their outermost electron. In contrast, Group 2 (alkaline earth metals) also shows an increase in reactivity down the group, but the trend is less pronounced compared to Group 1. This is because while ionization energy decreases, the presence of two outer electrons means that the reactivity is not solely dependent on losing one electron. Overall, both groups exhibit increasing reactivity down the group, but the rate of change is stronger in Group 1.
The trend in reactivity of Group 7 elements (halogens) is opposite to that of Group 1 elements (alkali metals) due to their differing electron configurations and tendencies to gain or lose electrons. Group 1 elements have one electron in their outer shell and readily lose it to achieve a stable electron configuration, making them highly reactive. In contrast, Group 7 elements have seven electrons in their outer shell and tend to gain an electron to complete their octet, which makes them more reactive as you move up the group. Therefore, while reactivity increases down Group 1, it increases up Group 7.
As you go down the group (any group), ionization energy decreases. So in terms of ionization energy, for the alkali metals, Lithium > Sodium > Potassium > Rubidium > Caesium > Francium
In the alkali metals column (Group 1), atomic radius increases down the group and reactivity increases. There are more shells preventing the attraction between the positive nucleus and negatively charged outer electron. (All Group 1 elements have 1 electron in their outer shell). Also, because they contain more shells down the group, the distance between the nucleus and electrons is increased. Therefore the electrostatic force is lessened between them. Both of these allow the outer electron to be lost easier to other elements, thus increasing reactivity.
potassium sodium calcium magnesium aluminium (carbon) zinc iron lead (hydrogen) copper silver gold platinum