In the alkali metals group, what happens as the atomic number increases?

1 Answer
Jan 3, 2017

The metal becomes more reducing........

Explanation:

The metal becomes more reducing........and MUCH MORE reactive.

Lithium is fairly zippy in water; sodium is even zippier. Potassium will give you bangs and pops and flames.

The metal also reduces its melting point. Potassium has a lower melting point of #63.3# #""^@C# than sodium, #97.8# #""^@C#, and lithium has a melting point of #180.5# #""^@C#.

AS the atomic number increases, the valence electron becomes farther removed from, and less strongly attracted to the nuclear core; and as a result the reactivity of the metal increases.