Group 1 Practice Questions

Give the letter of the element that is an alkali metal.

Give the number of electrons in the outer shell of an atom of element E.

Give the charge on the ion formed by an atom of element E.

Which row correctly describes the alkali metals?

• A hard, with high melting points
• B hard, with low melting points
• C soft, with high melting points
• D soft, with low melting points

Rubidium is in the same group of the periodic table as sodium.

State two physical properties you would expect rubidium to have.

State what the pH of 13 tells you about the solution formed.

Name the compound in the trough that causes this pH.

Give the colour of the universal indicator in the trough at the end of the reaction.

Describe two observations the students would make when the piece of sodium is dropped onto the water.

State one way in which the observations are different when a piece of potassium is used instead of sodium.

Complete the word equation for the reaction of potassium with water.

potassium + water → .................... + ....................

Lithium reacts with water in a similar way.

Write the balanced equation, including state symbols, for the reaction of lithium with water.

Describe the trend in reactivity shown by these results.

Rubidium is the next alkali metal in group 1.

Predict the time it would take for an equal-sized piece of rubidium to disappear and justify your prediction.

Give the electronic configuration of a potassium atom.

Complete the equation to show the formation of a potassium ion from a potassium atom.

$\mathrm{K} \rightarrow \mathrm{K^+} + \ldots\ldots\ldots$

Explain why all the elements in group 1 form ions with a charge of $+1$.

Explain, in terms of their electronic configurations, the pattern in reactivity shown by these three metals, and predict what the teacher would observe if a piece of caesium were added to water.

Caesium is below potassium in group 1.