AQA · Chemistry · 8462
GCSE Chemistry (AQA): Group 1 (Alkali Metals)
Topic 1 — Atomic Structure & the Periodic Table. Generated from the caption track of Cognito's lesson video "GCSE Chemistry - Group 1 Elements - Alkali Metals | Properties | Reactivity (2027/28 exams)"; each card deep-links to the moment in the video it came from. Lesson 1.14 of Cognito's AQA GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy) and Chemistry course (Higher tier), filed under AQA Chemistry 8462. Teaching by Cognito — https://cognitoedu.org/coursesubtopic/c2-gcse-aqa-h-c_1.14.
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What do ionic compounds of alkali metals typically look like?
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White solids that dissolve in water to form colourless solutions.
Why is only one electron lost when an alkali metal reacts?
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Group 1 atoms have a single electron in their outermost shell, and losing it leaves a full outer shell, which is stable.
What is formed when a group 1 metal is heated in chlorine gas?
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A white metal chloride salt, e.g. sodium + chlorine → sodium chloride.
Why do flames appear when potassium reacts with water?
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So much energy is released that it ignites the hydrogen gas produced.
Define reactivity in terms of electrons.
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How easily an atom can lose or gain electrons in order to react with other atoms.
What is the formula of sodium peroxide?
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Na₂O₂ — sodium and oxygen can react to form this instead of sodium oxide, Na₂O.
What two products form when an alkali metal reacts with water?
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A metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas, e.g. sodium + water → sodium hydroxide + hydrogen.
What is the formula of lithium oxide?
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Li₂O, formed when lithium reacts with oxygen.
What charge does an alkali metal ion carry?
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1+ — the atom loses one negatively charged electron.
Why does reactivity increase down group 1?
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The atomic radius increases, so the outer electron is further from the positive nucleus, is held less strongly, and is lost more easily.
Which group of the periodic table are the alkali metals?
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Group 1 — lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium and francium.
Going down group 1, the melting and boiling points ?.
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decrease
How do the physical properties of alkali metals differ from typical metals?
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They are relatively soft, with low densities and low melting points.
What type of bonding forms when an alkali metal reacts with a non-metal?
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Ionic bonding — the metal donates an electron, and the oppositely charged ions are held by electrostatic attraction.
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