AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), Higher tier · Atomic structure and the periodic table › The periodic table
Practise Group 1. 15 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
Cover the answers and test yourself. The app has these as flashcards that come back just before you'd forget them.
Sodium is a Group 1 element. What name is given to the elements in Group 1?
the alkali metals
Potassium burned with a coloured flame. What colour was the flame?
lilac
Lithium burns in oxygen to form lithium oxide, Li2O. Balance the equation. ....Li + O2 → ....Li2O
4Li + O2 → 2Li2O
Write a half equation for the formation of a potassium ion from a potassium atom.
K → K+ + e−
Write a balanced symbol equation for the reaction of M with water. Use M as the symbol for the metal.
2M + 2H2O → 2MOH + H2
Name the gas produced when a Group 1 metal reacts with water.
hydrogen
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy5 marks
Sodium is a Group 1 element.
(a) What name is given to the elements in Group 1?[1]
(b) Group 1 metals are stored under oil. Suggest why.[1]
(c) Complete the word equation for the reaction of sodium with water. sodium + water → .................... + ....................[2]
(d) Universal indicator was added to the solution formed. What is the pH of the solution? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
1
5
7
13
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: the alkali metals
alkali metals
(b)Answer: To stop them reacting with oxygen and water vapour in the air.
to stop them reacting with oxygen / water (vapour) / air
(c)Answer: sodium hydroxide + hydrogen
sodium hydroxide
hydrogen
(d)Answer: 13
Question 2Medium6 marks
Group 1 metals react with oxygen and with chlorine.
(a) Lithium burns in oxygen to form lithium oxide, Li2O. Balance the equation. ....Li + O2 → ....Li2O[1]
(b) Write a balanced symbol equation for the reaction of potassium with chlorine.[2]
(c) Describe the appearance of the product of the reaction between potassium and chlorine.[1]
(d) A freshly cut surface of sodium is shiny, but it quickly becomes dull. Explain why.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: 4Li + O2 → 2Li2O
4Li + O2 → 2Li2O
(b)Answer: 2K + Cl2 → 2KCl
correct formulae: K + Cl2 → KCl
balanced: 2K + Cl2 → 2KCl
(c)Answer: white solid
white solid
(d)Answer: Sodium reacts with oxygen in the air, forming a layer of sodium oxide.
sodium reacts with oxygen (in the air)
forming (a layer of) sodium oxide
Question 3Hard6 marks
A teacher demonstrated the reactions of lithium, sodium and potassium with water. Universal indicator had been added to the water in each trough.
Describe what the students would observe in the three reactions. Explain why the reactivity of the metals changes down the group.[6]
Show the answer and mark scheme
Answer: Li fizzes slowly; Na melts, fizzes and darts about; K melts, burns with a lilac flame. Hydrogen and an alkaline hydroxide form. Reactivity increases down the group because the outer electron is further from the nucleus and is lost more easily.
lithium: floats, fizzes steadily and moves slowly (does not melt)
sodium: floats, melts into a ball, fizzes quickly and moves rapidly across the surface
potassium: melts, fizzes violently and burns with a lilac flame / may spark or explode
the metal gets smaller and disappears
the indicator turns (from green to) blue / purple because an alkaline metal hydroxide forms
hydrogen gas is produced, e.g. 2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2
reactivity increases down the group
the atoms get larger / the outer electron is further from the nucleus
so the attraction between the nucleus and the outer electron is weaker
so the outer electron is lost more easily
Marked with levels of response: the full level descriptors are in the app.