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Group I Elements aka The Alkali Metals

– Some of their physical properties:

 Shiny, soft solids which can be cut by a blade

 Low melting points. Melting points decrease down the group
 Low densities. Densities increase down the group
 Good conductors of heat and electricity

– Some of their chemical properties:

 Form +1 ions as they lose 1 valence electron to obtain the “stable” octet state
 Very reactive (as they only need to lose one valence electron)
Reactivity of Group I elements increases down the group. This is because as atomic
size increases down the group, the lone valence electron is further away from the
nucleus and thus, less attracted by it. Hence, it is easier to lose that electron and
form ions.
 React with oxygen easily (even violently) and hence are kept under oil eg.

4Li(s)+O2(g)→2Li2O(s)

K(s)+O2(g)→KO2(s)

 Lithium, sodium and potassium burn with a red, orange and lilac flame respectively
with oxygen.

 React with water vigorously to form alkaline hydroxides (and hence, Group I
elements are also known as Alkali Metals) eg.

2Na(s)+2H2O(l)→2NaOH(aq)+H2(g)

 This reaction with water gives out a lot of heat (ie. exothermic reactions. See
Chemical Energy), which may ignite the formed hydrogen gas and cause a fire or
explosion.

 React with Group VII elements vigorously to form ionic salts eg.

2K(s)+Cl2(g)→2KCl(s)

In summary, all compounds of Group I Elements are 1) colourless, 2) soluble in water and 3)
stable to heating (as these alkali metals form strong bonds which do not break down easily
on heating).
Group VII Elements aka The Halogens

– Exist as diatomic molecules eg. F2, Cl2

– Are poisonous

– Some of their physical properties:

 Low melting and boiling points. These increase down the group
 Low densities. Densities increase down the group
 Poor conductors of heat and electricity
 Are coloured atoms. Colours intensify and darken down the group
eg. At room temperatures, fluorine gas is pale yellow, chlorine gas is yellowish green,
bromine liquid is dark red/ brown, iodine solid is bluish black

– Some of their chemical properties:

 Form -1 ions as they gain 1 electron to reach the octet state

 Very reactive
Reactivity of Group VII elements decreases down the group. This is because as
atomic size increases down the group, it becomes harder for the nucleus to attract
an additional electron to form ions.
 Can have displacement reactions, where a more reactive halogen will displace a less
reactive halogen from its own salt in its solution. In general, what one will see during
displacement reactions will be 1) the coloured halogen disappearing as it displaces
the less reactive halogen salt and 2) the colour of the solution being tainted by
the colour of the displaced halogen. eg.

Cl2(g)+2NaBr(aq)→2NaCl(aq)+Br2(aq)

 In the above reaction, the pale yellowish green chlorine gas will disappear as it is
bubbled through the colourless sodium bromide solution. The solution will be
coloured reddish brown by the bromine ions which had been displaced. If there are
no colour change, no displacement reaction has occurred. A displacement reaction is
an example of a redox reaction (See Oxidation and Reduction).
Group O Elements aka The Noble Gases

 Chemically stable and do not usually react with other elements ie. they are inert
 With the exception of helium, all the noble gases have 8 electrons in their outer
most shell
 Exist as monatomic atoms
 Are colourless gases with low melting and boiling points
 Low densities which increases down the group
 Widely used due to their chemical stability eg. Helium is used as a fuel to power
lightweight aircraft, neon is used in television tubes, advertising lightings, argon is
used in arc welding etc.