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Alkali metals Lithium, sodium and potassium are metals in group 1 of the periodic table - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 2 - 2012 - Paper 1
Question 2
Alkali metals Lithium, sodium and potassium are metals in group 1 of the periodic table. They are good conductors of heat and electricity. The freshly-cut metals ar... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Alkali metals Lithium, sodium and potassium are metals in group 1 of the periodic table - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 2 - 2012 - Paper 1
Step 1
Step 2
Explain, in terms of electrons in their atoms, why lithium, sodium and potassium are in group 1 of the periodic table.
Answer
Lithium, sodium, and potassium all have one electron in their outer shell. This single outer-shell electron is responsible for their placement in group 1 of the periodic table. The group number indicates the number of electrons present in the outer electron shell, confirming that these elements collectively exhibit similar chemical properties.
Step 3
Describe what you would see in this reaction.
Answer
When a small piece of potassium is added to water, you would observe effervescence or fizzing as bubbles form. The potassium would float on the surface of the water and move around. As it reacts, it might also melt and form a ball, and you may notice the potassium decreasing in size as it disappears or dissolves. Additionally, it is possible for the potassium to ignite and produce a lilac flame.
Step 4