Alkaline Metals Blog
1. What is an Alkaline metal?
- Alkaline metals are highly reactant materials that are soft and can be easily cut. They also react strongly when exposed to oxygen and water vapor, releasing hydrogen gas and losing their outermost electron to form charge +1 cations.
Where are they on the Periodic Table?
- They are on the left side of the Periodic Table.
2. What reaction did we do yesterday?
Observations: Caught on fire in a few seconds upon contact with water and oxygen; exploded into smaller particles; created smoke; remaining residue is oxidized white powder; ceiling burnt
Products and reactants: sodium + water -> hydrogen gas + sodium oxide
Chemical equation: Na + H2O = Na2O - 2Na + H2O = Na2O + H2
3. Why do the metals react this way?
They react this way because they often react strongly when mixed with water and oxygen. They then release hydrogen gas a few seconds upon contact, setting on fire in the process, and then either explode of fizzle away.
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