By: Emily Brewer, Brianna Cable, Brennan Bedford Alkali Metals By: Emily Brewer, Brianna Cable, Brennan Bedford

Alkali Metals Potassium Origin: Potassium gets its name from the English word potash. Its symbol, K, comes from its Latin word ‘kalium’. This comes from the Arab word ‘alqail’, which means ‘to roast’. Number of electrons: 19 Number of protons: 19 This element was is found in nature, but is always attached to another element. It was discovered by Sir Humphry Davy in 1807. Emily Brewer 5-2 Sir Humphry Davy

Common Uses Explosives (fireworks, gunpowder…etc…) Cotton dyes Helps matches burn Heat transfer (with sodium) Fertilizers A mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal creates gunpowder. Potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen form fertilizers.

Fun Facts About Potassium Makes up 31% of the Earth’s crust. No scent Reacts violently with water Never found in nature in pure form Aids in the function of the nerves Key factor in heart function and the skeletal system. Potassium reacting with water.

Bibliography Dingle, Adrian. The Periodic Table. Boston: Kingfisher, 2007 Woodford, Chris. Potassium. New York: Benchmark Books, 2003

Alkali Metals: Sodium/Na Origin: Sodium has been known for a long time in the form of soda. The term ‘soda’ was used by Humphry Davy. He isolated it in 1807. Sodium’s Latin name is Natrium, which is where the symbol Na comes from. Number of protons:11 Number of electrons: 11 Brianna Cable 5-3

Alkali Metals: Sodium/Na Common Uses: Toothpaste, Cooking, Preserving foods, Glass, Salt (sodium chloride) which is the most common and recognized use for sodium. This is a picture of a 50 pound salt block. Each pound is only 10¢, and the entire thing only costs $5.00. Sodium gives street lights their orange glow. Interesting fact: our bodies contain about 3.5 ounces of salt. Brianna Cable 5-3

Alkali Metals: Sodium/ Na Interesting facts! Sodium doesn’t occur by itself in nature as a metal because it is so reactive. It is so reactive that it will explode into flames on contact with water. Sodium is relatively common on the Earth and is the most common of all the elements in Group 1. It is the fourth most abundant element on the planet, and makes up 2.6% of Earth’s crust. Name and ABC#

O’Daly, Anne. Sodium. New York: Benchmark books; 2002 Resources O’Daly, Anne. Sodium. New York: Benchmark books; 2002 Dingle, Adrian. The Periodic Table. Boston, Massachusetts: Kingfisher, 2007 Brianna Cable 5-3

Alkali Metals Francium Origin: Francium gets its name from France. Number of electrons: 87 Number of protons: 87 This element was discovered by Marguerite Perey in 1939 in nature. This element has no uses because it has a very short life and it’s found uranium minerals. Brennan Bedford 5-1

Alkali Metals Francium This is a picture of a mineral that contains uranium and thorium that produce francium in small quantities from radioactive decay chains. Brennan Bedford 5-1

Alkali Metals Francium This picture shows uranium ore which holds 100,000 elements of francium. Brennan Bedford 5-1

Fun Facts About Francium There is less than only 30 grams of francium in the entire Earth’s crust. Properties are very similar to those of cesium. Most reactive alkali metal in group one. Has a half-life of 22 minutes Very radioactive metal. Within 22 minutes it quickly decays into other elements. Longest-lived isotope. Brennan Bedford 5-1

Alkali Metals They all have a single electron in the outer shell, very reactive, softness, color of silver, shininess, low density; Classification: metallic. Brennan Bedford 5-1

Gray, Theodor. 2005. Ebay. 6 May 2014. www.periodictable.com Resources Gray, Theodor. 2005. Ebay. 6 May 2014. www.periodictable.com Brennan Bedford 5-1