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Group 1

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Group 1 elements, also known as Alkali Metals on the Periodic Table are the elements which have only one electron in their outer shell.

PeriodicTableGroups.png
Group 1 elements are shown in light purple at the far left of the Periodic Table. NB: Hydrogen is often shown in Group 1 due to having a single electron in the outer shell however it is not considered an Alkali Metal because it has very few properties in common with Alkali Metals.

About the Alkali Metals

Though Hydrogen has one electron in the outer shell it does not behave the same as other elements in group 1 so it is not considered to be an Alkali Metal.
The Alkali Metals have similar chemical properties because they all have one electron on their outer shell.
Alkali Metals all produce ions with a +1 relative charge because they lose an electron in chemical reactions.

The Alkali Metals in order from least reactive to most reactive are:

Chemical Properties

Alkali Metals are all highly reactive and will oxidise quickly in the presence of Oxygen.
Alkali Metals all react strongly with water to produce metal hydroxides and Hydrogen gas.
Alkali Metals all produce strong alkalis.
Group1ElectronShells.png
Group1ElectronShielding.png
In a chemical reaction the electron in the outer shell is lost.

The reactivity increases as you go down the group because:

Physical Properties

Alkali Metals have a low density compared to other metals.
Alkali Metals are all solid at room temperature but have a low melting point compared to other metals.
Alkali Metals are soft and can be easily cut.
Alkali Metals all appear shiny (before they oxidise).

References

AQA

Alkali metals (Group 1), pages 14-15, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
Alkali metals, page 109, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Alkali metals, page 24, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Alkali metals, pages 129-31, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
Alkali metals, pages 26-27, 30-31, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Alkali metals, pages 56-58, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Alkali metals, pages 56-59, 66, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Alkali metals, physical properties, page 162, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
Group 1 (alkali metals), pages 129-31, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
Group 1 (alkali metals), pages 42-3, 46, 49, 42-3, 131, 133-5, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA
Group 1 (alkali metals); physical properties, page 162, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
Group 1, page 109, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Group 1, page 24, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
Group 1, pages 14-15, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA
Group 1, pages 26-27, 30-31, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
Group 1, pages 56-58, 66, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
Group 1, pages 56-58, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Chemistry, CGP, AQA

Edexcel

Alkali metals, page 123, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Alkali metals, page 73, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Alkali metals, pages 128-129, GCSE Chemistry, Pearson, Edexcel
Alkali metals, pages 242-243, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel
Alkali metals, pages 40, 49, 210-212, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel
Group 1, pages 20, 73, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
Group 1, pages 40, 49, 210-212, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, Edexcel
Group 1, pages 83, 123, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel

OCR

Alkali metals (Group 1 elements), pages 70, 71, 132-133, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR
Alkali metals, page 121, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
Alkali metals, page 51, GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR Gateway
Group 1 elements, pages 70, 71, 132-133, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR
Group 1, page 121, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
Group 1, page 51, Gateway GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR