Group I properties
8.2What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe the Group I alkali metals, lithium, sodium and potassium, as relatively soft metals with general trends down the group, limited to: (a) decreasing melting point (b) increasing density (c) increasing reactivity
- Predict the properties of other elements in Group I, given information about the elements
Read the notes first
Chapter 8: Group I properties
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Every question on Group I properties, untimed, marked as you go.
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Choose the years and how many questions, then print it with the answers on separate pages.
17 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q20Show mark scheme →
ACaesium is more dense than lithium.
BCaesium reacts with water to produce a solution with a pH less than 7.
CCaesium reacts less vigorously than lithium with water.
DCaesium melts at a higher temperature than lithium.
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2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q21Show mark scheme →
A1 and 3
B1 and 4
C2 and 3
D2 and 4
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3May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B2, 3 and 4
C2 and 3 only
D3 and 4 only
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4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q21Also set in Oct / Nov 2018 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
ATheir melting points decrease and their reaction with water becomes less vigorous.
BTheir melting points decrease and their reaction with water becomes more vigorous.
CTheir melting points increase and their reaction with water becomes less vigorous.
DTheir melting points increase and their reaction with water becomes more vigorous.
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5Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
AP and R
BP and S
CQ and R
DQ and S
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6May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AIt has a higher melting point than potassium.
BIt reacts with water to produce an acidic solution.
CIt reacts with water to produce oxygen gas.
DIt is more reactive than potassium.
Mark scheme
7May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
ACaesium has the higher density and the greater reactivity.
BCaesium has the higher density; rubidium has the greater reactivity.
CRubidium has the higher density and the greater reactivity.
DRubidium has the higher density; caesium has the greater reactivity.
Mark scheme
8Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q24Show mark scheme →
Alithium
Bsodium
Crubidium
Dcaesium
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9May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Agreater density: lithium; greater tendency to form a positive ion: lithium
Bgreater density: lithium; greater tendency to form a positive ion: potassium
Cgreater density: potassium; greater tendency to form a positive ion: lithium
Dgreater density: potassium; greater tendency to form a positive ion: potassium
Mark scheme
10May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
ABromine displaces chlorine from an aqueous solution of sodium chloride.
BIodine is discharged at the negative electrode when concentrated aqueous potassium iodide is electrolysed.
CRubidium has a greater tendency to form positive ions than potassium.
DSodium and potassium both react with water but the reaction is more violent with sodium.
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11May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AGroup I elements are less reactive than the Group II element in the same period because they only need to lose one electron to have complete shells.
BGroup I elements are stored under oil to avoid reaction with oxygen and water in the air.
CGroup I elements become more reactive as the group is descended because the number of outer shell electrons increases.
DThe melting point of Group I elements decreases as the group is descended because there is more attraction between positive ions and the ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons.
Mark scheme
12May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AIt has a higher melting point than potassium.
BIt reacts with water to produce an acidic solution.
CIt reacts with water to produce oxygen gas.
DIt is more reactive than potassium.
Mark scheme
13May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
Ahigher more the same
Bhigher less the same
Clower more greater
Dlower more the same
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14May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q24Also set in May / June 2020 Paper 11, Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 11, Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
Acalcium
Bcopper
Cmagnesium
Dpotassium
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15Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q22Show mark scheme →
AThey all have metallic bonding.
BThey all have the same number of complete electron shells.
CThey all have the same number of electrons in their outer shell.
DThey are all stored under oil to prevent reactions with the air.
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16Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q32Show mark scheme →
AThey are hard compared with most other metals.
BThey form coloured compounds.
CThey have high densities compared with most other metals.
DThey only form ions with a charge of +1.
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17May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
AAtoms of elements in Group VII react to form ions by losing one electron.
BIodine can displace bromine from its salts.
CPotassium reacts more rapidly than lithium with water to form the hydroxide and hydrogen.
DThe melting point of caesium is greater than that of potassium.
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