In this chapter, you should be able to:

• describe lithium, sodium and potassium in Group I as a collection of relatively soft metals showing a trend in melting point, density and reaction with water
• predict the properties of other elements in Group I, given data, where appropriate
• know that aluminium is extracted from the ore bauxite by electrolysis
• name the uses of aluminium:
  – in the manufacture of aircraft because of its strength and low density
  – in food containers because of its resistance to corrosion
• account for the apparent unreactivity of aluminum in terms of the oxide layer which adheres to the metal
• describe the transition elements as a collection of metals having high densities, high melting points and forming coloured compounds, and which, as elements and compounds, often act as catalysts
• know that transition elements have variable oxidation states
• place in order of reactivity: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, (hydrogen) and copper, by reference to the reactions, if any, of the metals with:
  – water or steam
  – dilute hydrochloric acid
  and the reduction of their oxides with carbon
• deduce an order of reactivity from a given set of experimental results
• know that differences in reactivity between metals can be used to generate electricity in cells and batteries