Group 1 elements chemical reactivity

The elements in the group are chemically reactive. Sub-Group VA Transition Metal Elements Vanadium, Niobium, Tantalum, Protactinium... 

Sodium [7440-23-5] Na, an alkali metal, is the second element of Group 1 (lA) of the Periodic Table, atomic wt 22.9898. The chemical symbol is derived from the Latin natrium. Commercial iaterest ia the metal derives from its high chemical reactivity, low melting poiat, high boiling poiat, good thermal and electrical conductivity, and high value ia use. 

Conceivably, many compounds of inorganic elements have chemical reactivity that could contribute to improved adhesion to mineral surfaces. A fairly wide range of compounds, not restricted to any particular group in the periodic table, have been proposed as coupling agents as is shown in the following list ... 

The alkali metals form a homogeneous group of extremely reactive elements which illustrate well the similarities and trends to be expected from the periodic classification, as discussed in Chapter 2. Their physical and chemical properties are readily interpreted in terms of their simple electronic configuration, ns, and for this reason they have been extensively studied by the full range of experimental and theoretical techniques. Compounds of sodium and potassium have been known from ancient times and both elements are essential for animal life. They are also major items of trade, commerce and chemical industry. Lithium was first recognized as a separate element at the beginning of the nineteenth eentury but did not assume major industrial importance until about 40 y ago. Rubidium and caesium are of considerable academic interest but so far have few industrial applications. Francium, the elusive element 87, has only fleeting existence in nature due to its very short radioactive half-life, and this delayed its discovery until 1939. 

The Group 13 metals differ sharply from the non-metallic element boron both in their greater chemical reactivity at moderate temperatures and in their well-defined cationic chemistry for aqueous solutions. The absence of a range of... 

Chemical reactivity and group trends Table 10.2 Some physical properties of Group 14 elements... 

The stability of the electronic configuration is indicated by the fact that each element has the highest ionization energy in its period, though the value decreases down the group as a result of increasing size of the atoms. For the heavier elements is it actually smaller than for first-row elements such as O and F with consequences for the chemical reactivities of the noble gases which will be considered in the next section. Nuclear properties, particularly for xenon, have been exploited for nmr spectroscopy and Mdssbauer... 

Chemical reactivity and trends Table 22.1 Some properties of Group 5 elements... 

It is hard to generalize about the chemical reactivities of a group of elements since reactivities depend upon two factors (A) the relative stability of the specific compounds formed compared with the reactants used up, and, (B) the rate at which the reaction occurs. In special cases there are other complications. For example, chromium metal (familiar in the form of chrome plate) is highly reactive toward oxygen. Still, a highly polished piece of chromium holds... 

A first group of hydrides (ionic hydrides) is formed with the more electropositive elements of the 5-block of the Periodic Table. This group of hydrides includes the salt-like MeH (Me+H ) NaCl-type compounds of the alkali metals and the di-hydrides (Co2Si-type) formed by the divalent metals Ca, Sr, Ba and also by Eu and Yb. The thermal stability of these hydrides decreases from Li to Cs and from Ca to Ba the chemical reactivity on the contrary increases from Li to Cs and from Ca to Ba. While the reaction of NaH with water is very violent, the reaction of LiH or CaH2 can be used for a portable source of hydrogen. 

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