Group 1: Reactivity & Electronic Configurations Flashcards

All 3 cards in this deck

What is the trend in reactivity with water going down group 1?

Reactivity increases down the group.
Order for these three: lithium < sodium < potassium.

What would you predict you would see when a small piece of rubidium is dropped onto water?

Fizzing/effervescence, the metal moves around and disappears, and it ignites with a flame or explodes (reacts violently).

Explain, in terms of electronic configurations, why reactivity increases from lithium to sodium to potassium.

The atoms become larger, so the outer electron is further from the nucleus and more shielded, so it is more easily lost.