Transcript

Now let's see another reaction of the alkali metals, the reaction with water.

We'll start with Lithium. The metal floats on the water and reacts with it, giving off Hydrogen gas.

Now for Sodium, the same sort of thing happens, although the reaction is a bit more vigorous. All the alkali metals react with water in the same way.

Now for Potassium. This time you'll see a flame. The heat given out by the reaction is produced so quickly that the Hydrogen gas catches fire, it burns with a lilac flame.

The next element is Rubidium. This time we've put a safety screen between us and the reaction.You can see that things gradually become more terrifying as we go down the group.

Let's try Caesium, our 5th alkali metal.

[Huge explosion]