From Atoms to Materials

Group I elements •  soft silvery solids when freshly cut • low densities • highly reactive •  have similar chemical properties (e.g. react with water to give off hydrogen gas) Group II elements lithium (lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, francium) (beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, radium) Table salt (sodium chloride) is a salt formed from a Group I element. Soap usually contains compounds of sodium or potassium. Uses Calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) is used to neutralize acidic soil. Magnesium hydroxide is used as an antacid. Group II metals: (from left) beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium Properties Fr Rb K Na Li Cs I II III IV V VI VII VIII Group Uses I II III IV V VI VII VIII Group Ra Sr Ca Mg Be Ba •  silvery solids after polishing • reactive •  have similar chemical properties (e.g. react with dilute acids to give off hydrogen gas) Properties sodium potassium 36 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Limited 2024 All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Sample