Group 1: the Alkali Metals

Lab Brief #5

🎯 Your mission

Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).

⚡ The twist

Mixing two safe things doesn't always make a safe thing.

What you'll learn

Group 1 metals have one outer electron, which they lose readily to form +1 ions. They are soft, low-density and stored under oil. Reactivity increases down the group because the outer electron sits further from the nucleus and is lost more easily.

Key words

alkali metal
A Group 1 element with one outer electron, forming a +1 ion.
reactivity trend
The change in how vigorously elements react as you move down a group.

Make a hypothesis first

Predict: will the mixture get hotter, colder, or stay the same?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Get ready

🧰 What you need

teacher demonstration or recorded video
universal indicator
notebook

Get ready

⚠️ Safety first

Never handle alkali metals yourself — this is a teacher demonstration behind a safety screen only.
Observers must wear eye protection and stand well back.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Think about what you just learned: say what "alkali metal" and "reactivity trend" mean in your own words before you start.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Watch a teacher demonstration or recorded footage of lithium, sodium and potassium reacting with water. Record fizzing rate, whether the metal melts, and any flame colour, then rank them and explain the trend.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Question 1 of 2

Reactivity in Group 1 as you move down the group:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

An alkali metal atom forms an ion with a charge of:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

💧 Hot water can freeze faster than cold water under the right conditions. Nobody fully understands why.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 2 right.

Next: Group 7: the Halogens All lessons

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: Your toothpaste, your soap, even your breakfast involves this.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Ask a grown-up to help you mix two safe kitchen things. Predict what will happen first.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's something we cook that mixes things together this way?”

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Group 1: the Alkali Metals

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