Question

Alkali Metals (9 things)

A) High electronegativity, low melting points, metallic character increases down the group
B) Low electronegativity, high melting points, metallic character decreases down the group
C) High electronegativity, high melting points, metallic character decreases down the group
D) Low electronegativity, low melting points, metallic character increases down the group

Answer 1

Alkali metals have low electronegativity, low melting points, and their metallic character increases down the group. Option D is correct, reflecting their increased reactivity and ease of losing the valence electron due to lower ionization energy and larger atomic radius.

Step-by-step explanation:

The alkali metals are characterized by certain properties regarding their atomic structure and chemical behavior. Option D describes these properties most accurately for the alkali metals.

Alkali metals have a low electronegativity, indicating a low tendency to attract electrons, and low melting points, making them more malleable and easier to melt compared to other metals.

Additionally, the metallic character increases as you move down the group, mainly because the atoms increase in size and the valence electrons are further from the nucleus, which reduces the energy required to remove them and increases their reactivity.

For instance, cesium and francium are at the bottom of this group and exhibit the highest reactivity among the alkali metals.

The larger atomic radius and low first ionization energy in alkali metals facilitate the loss of their single valence electron, leading to the formation of stable cations with a charge of 1+.

Hence, the correct answer to the characteristics of alkali metals is Option D: Low electronegativity, low melting points, metallic character increases down the group.