What is the common oxidation state of alkali metals?
Practice Questions
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What is the common oxidation state of alkali metals?
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Alkali metals have a common oxidation state of +1.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: What is the common oxidation state of alkali metals?
Solution: Alkali metals have a common oxidation state of +1.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Identify alkali metals. These are the elements in Group 1 of the periodic table, which include lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and francium (Fr).
Step 2: Understand what oxidation state means. Oxidation state refers to the charge of an atom in a compound, indicating how many electrons it has lost or gained.
Step 3: Recognize that alkali metals have one electron in their outermost shell.
Step 4: Know that alkali metals tend to lose this one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
Step 5: When alkali metals lose one electron, they acquire a charge of +1.
Step 6: Conclude that the common oxidation state of alkali metals is +1.
