Question

Alkali Metals have high affinity for oxygen. With respect to this property, what are they called ? Explain the variation in the property.

Answer 1

Alkali metals have high affinity for oxygen. So oxygen reacts rapidly with group 1 elements. All alkali metal oxides form basic solutions when dissolved in water. Thus, IA group elements form alkalies (i.e., strong bases capable of neutralizing acids upon reaction with oxygen) when they react with water. So they are called Alkali metals. The electron affinity decreases as we descend the group.