:s- Block Element:

The elements in which the last electron enters the s orbital in their atoms are called s block elements. These electrons have general electronic configuration ns1-2. The s block elements are placed in the left side of the periodic table (group 1 &2.) The s block elements with one electron in their outermost shell and having electronic configuration ns1 are called alkali metals. Again the s block elements with two electrons in their outermost shell and having electronic configuration ns2 are called alkaline earth metals. Abundance and occurrence: As s- block elements are violently active of all the metals, therefore readily gets oxidized and are not found in free state in nature. These elements show range of abundance in the earths crust. Ca Mg Na K Ba 5th most abundant element. 6th most abundant element. 7th most abundant element. 8th most abundant element. 14th most abundant element.

Fr and Ra are radioactive and have rare terrestrial abundance. Anomalous properties of the first element in each group: Elements in a group show similar physical and chemical properties. However the 1st element in each group differs from the succeeding members (called congeners) due to the following reasons; a. Small size of their atoms and ions. b. High electronegativity and ionization enthalpy. c. Non availability of d orbital in their valence shell. Diagonal relationship: Some elements of the 2nd period show similarity in their property with elements in 3 period present diagonally to each other. This is called diagonal relationship. 2nd period Li Be B C 3rd period Na Mg Al Si Cause of diagonal relationship: On moving across a period the electronegativity increases and moving down group electronegativity decreases. Therefore on moving diagonally the two opposing effects mutually

cancels and electronegativity almost remains same. Thus due to similar electronegativity the diagonal pairs show similar properties. Alkali metal: Element belonging to the group 1 of the periodic table are called alkali metal. They constitute six elements- Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs and Fr. These are called alkali metal because they readily dissolve in water to form hydroxides which are strongly alkaline in nature. These elements have general electronic configuration ns1. Symbol Li Na K Rb Cs Fr Atomic number 3 11 19 37 55 87 Electronic configuration [He] 2s1 [Ne] 3s1 [Ar] 4s1 [Kr] 5s1 [Xe]62s1 [Rn] 7s1

Physical properties and periodicities: 1. Atomic and ionic radius: They have the largest atomic and ionic radius in their period. Atomic and ionic radius increases on moving down from Li to Fr. 2. Molar volume: The ratio of molar mass (gmol -1) and density (gcm-3) is known as molar vol(cm3mol-1). Molar volume increases on moving down from Li to Fr. 3. Density: Alkali metals have quite low density as compared to the other metals. On moving down a group density increases from Li to Fr. 4. Melting and boiling point: All alkali metals are soft metal and have low melting and boiling points, because they have only one valence electron per atom. Melting and boiling point decreases from Li to Fr. 5. Ionisation enthalpy: The alkali metals have low ionization enthalpy. The ionization enthalpy decreases from Li to Fr, due to increase in atomic radius. With increase in atomic radius the electron gets farther and farther away from the nucleus and gets less tightly held. 6. Electropositive character: Group 1elements has strong tendency to lose electrons and thus change into positive ions. M M+ + e Due to decrease in ionization enthalpy the electropositive character and metallic character decreases from Li to Fr.

7. Oxidation state: The alkali metal by losing an electron acquires a stable noble gas configuration and exhibit +1 oxidation state. Thus alkali metal are univalent and forms ionic compound. 8. Reducing properties: Oxidation is a process of losing electron and reduction is a process of gaining electron. Oxidising agent are substance that can accept electron and reducing agent are substance that can lose electron. Alkali metal due to their low ionization energy is good reducing agent. The reducing properties increase from Li to Cs due subsequent decrease in their ionisation enthalpy. In aqueous solution Li has the highest reducing property due to highest hydration energy of Li+ ion. 9. Flame coloration: All alkali metals and their salt have characterististic flame colouration in Bunsen flame. Due to low ionization energy, alkali metal on heated, the electron gets excited to higher energy level. When the electron returns to the ground level, energy is released in the form of light in the visible region. Element Flame colouration Li Crimson red Na Golden yellow K Pale violet Rb Red violet Cs Bluish 10.Photoelectric effect: Except Li all the alkali metals exhibit photoelectric effect. Cs due to very low ionization enthalpy exhibit very strong photoelectric effect and is used in solar cell. Property Li Na K Rb Cs
Atomic no. Molar mass (gmol-1) Density at 0C (gcm-3) Molar vol (cm3mol-1) Melting point (C) Boiling point (C) Atomic radius (A) Ionic radius (A) Ionization enthalpy (kJmol-1) Electronegativity 3 6.94 0.534 12.97 180.0 1326 1.34 0.60 520.1 1.0 Crimson red 11 22.99 0.972 23.68 97.8 883 1.54 0.95 495.2 0.9 Golden yellow 19 39.10 0.859 45.36 64.0 756 1.96 1.33 418.7 0.8 Pale violet 37 85.48 1.530 55.80 38.9 688 2.11 1.48 403.0 0.8 Red violet 55 132.91 1.903 69.95 28.7 690 2.25 1.69 375.7 0.7 Bluish

Flame colouration

Chemical properties: The alkali metal is highly reactive due to-(i) low ionization energy (ii) low heat of atomization.

1. Action of air: Get tarnished on exposure to air due to formation of oxide/ hydroxide/carbonate on their surface. M + O2 M2O M2O + H2O 2M(OH) 2M(OH) + CO2 M2CO3 + H2O Metal oxide are of three types-(i) oxide (LiO) (ii) Peroxide(Na2O2) (iii) superoxide(KO2) 2. Action of water: Alkali metal reacts with water to give hydroxides and hydrogen gas. 2 M + 2H2O 2MOH + H2 Li reacts slowly while the other members reacts vigorously (catches fire). Therefore alkali metal is kept under kerosene or petroleum ether. 3. Action of hydrogen: They react directly with hydrogen to give crystalline ionic hydrides. 2M + H2 2MH The reactivity of the alkali metal toward hydrogen decreases on moving down from Li to Cs. 4. Action of halogen: They react directly with halogen to give ionic metal halides. 2M + X2 2MX ( X = F/Cl/Br/I ) The reactivity of the alkali metal toward particular halogen increases on moving down from Li to Cs, due to decrease of ionization energy of the metal. On the other hand the reactivity of a halogen toward a particular metal decreases from F2 to I2. 5.