CHEMISTRY GUIDE

This page looks at the reactions of the Group 1 elements - lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and caesium - with water. It uses these reactions to explore the trend in reactivity in Group 1. The Facts General All of these metals react vigorously or even explosively with cold water. In each case, a solution of the metal hydroxide is produced together with hydrogen gas. This equation applies to any of these metals and water - just replace the X by the symbol you want. In each of the following descriptions, I am assuming a very small bit of the metal is dropped into water in a fairly large container. Details for the individual metals Lithium Lithium's density is only about half that of water so it floats on the surface, gently fizzing and giving off hydrogen. It gradually reacts and disappears, forming a colourless solution of lithium hydroxide. The reaction generates heat too slowly and lithium's melting point is too ...