Experiment 4.

1, Practical Book, page 35 - 37

Aim:
To investigate the chemical properties of lithium, sodium and potassium

Problem Statement:
How does the reactivity of Group 1 elements change when they react with water and oxygen gas, O 2?

A) The reactions of alkali metals with water

Hypothesis :
When going down Group 1, alkali metals become more reactive in their reactions with water.

Variables :
(a) Manipulated variable : Different types of alkali metals
(b) Responding variable : Reactivity of metals
(c) Fixed variables : Water, size of metals

Operational definition:
An alkali metal that reacts more vigorously with water is a more reactive metal.

Apparatus:
Water troughs
Small knife
Forceps
Materials:
Small pieces of lithium, sodium and potassium
Filter paper
Red litmus paper

Procedure: [refer page 36]

Data and observation:

Lithium Sodium Potassium

Lithium melts and moves
slowly at random on the
surface of water with plenty of
fizz. A colourless solution that
turns red litmus paper blue is
formed
Sodium melts and moves rapidly
at random on the surface of water
with a hissing sound. A colourless
solution that turns red litmus paper
blue is formed
Potassium melts, moves very
fast at random on the surface of
water and ignites with a lilac
flame, with pop and hissing
sounds. A colourless solution
that turns red litmus paper blue
is formed

B) The reactions of alkali metals with oxygen gas

Hypothesis :
Alkali metals are reactive in their reactions with oxygen when going down Group 1

Variables :
(a) Manipulated variable : Different types of alkali metals
(b) Responding variable : Reactivity of metals
(c) Fixed variables : Oxygen gas, O2 and size of metals
Operational definition:
An alkali metal that reacts more vigorously with oxygen gas is a more reactive metal.

Apparatus:
Small knife
Forceps
Gas jars
Gas jar spoons
Gas jar covers
Materials:
Small pieces of lithium, sodium and potassium
Filter paper
Distilled water
Red litmus paper
Three gas jars filled with oxygen gas

Procedure: [refer page 36]

Data and observation :

Experiment Lithium Sodium Potassium

(i) Heating alkali Lithium burns slowly Sodium burns rapidly Potassium burns very
metal in a gas jar with a red flame. White with a bright yellow rapidly and violently
spoon fumes are produced flame. White fumes are with a lilac flame.
which become a white produced which White fumes are
solid when cooled to become a white solid produced which
room temperature when cooled to room become a white solid
temperature when cooled to room
temperature
(ii) Testing the The white solid formed The white solid formed The white solid formed
solution formed dissolves in water to dissolves in water to dissolves in water to
with red litmus form a colourless form a colourless form a colourless
paper solution that turn red solution that turn red solution that turn red
litmus paper blue litmus paper blue litmus paper blue

Interpreting data:
1. Lithium, sodium, potassium
2. Yes. They have the same number of valence electron which is 1.
3. Lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.

Discussions :
1. Sodium and potassium are very reactive and react vigorously with water. This experiment is too
dangerous to be carried out by the students.
2. (a) water
2Li(s) + 2H2O(l) 2LiOH(aq) + H2(g)
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
2K(s) + 2H2O(l) 2KOH(aq) + H2(g)
 (b) oxygen gas
4Li(s) + O2(g) 2Li2O(s)
4Na(s) + O2(g) 2Na2O(s)
4K(s) + O2(g) 2K2O(s)

3. Li2O(s) + H2O(l) 2LiOH(aq)

Na2O(s) + H2O(l) 2NaOH(aq)
K2O(s) + H2O(l) 2KOH(aq)

Conclusion :
1. Lithium, sodium and potassium react with water to form metal hydroxide with alkaline properties.

2. Lithium, sodium and potassium react with oxygen gas, O 2 to form solid metal oxides with alkaline
properties.

3. Arrangement of the alkali metals in increasing order of their reactivity is lithium, sodium and
potassium.
The hypothesis is accepted.