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Properties and Trends of Alkali Metals: Lithium, Sodium and Potassium

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Added on  2019-09-18

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This article explores the properties and trends of Lithium, Sodium and Potassium, including their atomic radius, electronegativity, ionization energy, melting and boiling points, density, electropositive or metallic character, and reactivity. The article also explains the nature of the compounds formed by these elements and how their properties change as you move down the group in the periodic table.

Properties and Trends of Alkali Metals: Lithium, Sodium and Potassium

   Added on 2019-09-18

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Table of ContentsProperties.........................................................................................................................................2Trends..............................................................................................................................................3Nature of the Compounds............................................................................................................3Atomic Radius.............................................................................................................................3Electronegativity..........................................................................................................................3Ionization energy.........................................................................................................................4Melting and boiling points...........................................................................................................4Density.........................................................................................................................................5Electropositive or Metallic Character..........................................................................................5Reactivity.....................................................................................................................................5
Properties and Trends of Alkali Metals: Lithium, Sodium and Potassium_1
PropertiesThe selected elements are Lithium, Sodium and Potassium. The three selected elements are ionic in nature and seen to have low melting point, low densities and react violently with water. Due tothis, these metals are generally stored in mineral oil. These are extremely soft in nature and have silvery appearance. These are seen to have the largest atomic radii and have low electro negativities and low ionization energies. This can be understood by examining the electronic configuration of these elements.The alkali metals have the largest atomic radii in their respective period as they have one, looselybound electron in their ultimate shell. This valence electron can easily be lost and a univalent
Properties and Trends of Alkali Metals: Lithium, Sodium and Potassium_2
cation can be formed, making these elements highly reactive in nature. Due to this, they have low effective charge owning to low ionization energies.Trends Nature of the CompoundsThe alkali metals ionic in nature as they have the tendency to form cation owning to low ionization energy and by losing their valence electron easily. Therefore, an ionic bond is formed with the p block non-metal.Atomic Radius Down the group, the atomic radius is seen to increase due to addition of the new energy shells of the electron. Therefore, the atomic size is seen to increase on going down the group.Physical propertyLiNaKAtomic radius152186231Electronegativity The electronegativity decreases down the group due to high amount of screening and shielding by the innermost electrons of the elements.Physical propertyLiNaKElectronegativity1.00.90.8
Properties and Trends of Alkali Metals: Lithium, Sodium and Potassium_3

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