Alkali metals

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Alkali metals

• Properties
• Flame colors over the Bunsen burner
• Application
• Video on How alkali metals reacts with water
• Chintal
  Desai

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Periodic table
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Lithium (Lithos) (Li)
Crimson red flame

• It is the first member of the Alkali Metal
  family.
• Lithium is the lightest of all metals

silvery white
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Application of Li

• It compounds are used in certain kinds of glass
  and porcelain products.
• More recently lithium has become important in
  dry-cell batteries and nuclear reactors.
• Some compounds of lithium have been used to treat
  manic depressives.

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Sodium (Natria) Na

• Sodium is perhaps the most characteristic alkali
  metal.
• Reacts violently with water and rapidly with the
  oxygen in air.
• Soft enough to cut with a knife.
• It is the sixth most abundant element in the
  earth's crust.

Silvery white
Golden yellow
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Application of Na

• Sodium in its elemental state it has been used as
  a molten coolant in nuclear reactors
• Is currently under research for sodium/sulfur
  batteries.
• Its most common compounds for industrial use
  include sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide (lye),
  sodium carbonate (washing soda) and sodium
  sulfate.

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Potassium (kalium ) K
pale lavender

• The seventh most abundant element.
• Potassium is less dense than water
• Potassium reacts so violently with water that it
  bursts into flame

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Application of Potassium

• Important compounds of potassium include
• potassium hydroxide (KOH) (used in some drain
  cleaners),
• potassium superoxide, KO2,( used in respiratory
  equipment )
• potassium nitrate, used in fertilizers and
  pyrotechnics.
• Like sodium ions, the presence of potassium ions
  in the body is essential for the correct function
  of many cells

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Rubidium (Latin rubidius red)
Violet

• Is similar in physical and chemical
  characteristics to potassium, but much more
  reactive.
• It is the seventeenth most abundant element.
• Its melting point is so low you could melt it in
  your hand if you had a fever (39oC).
  (Dangerous!!)

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Application of Rb

• Rubidium was once thought to be quite rare but
  recent discoveries of large deposits indicate
  that there is plenty to use.
• However at present it finds only limited
  application in the manufacture of cathode ray
  tubes.