Study Set Content:
can be handled in air for a short time
lithium, sodium and potassium
have to be handled in an inert gas atmosphere
rubidium and cesium
react violently with water with the formation of the metal hydroxide and hydrogen;
alkali metals
least reactive alkali metal
lithium
potassium, rubidium and cesium
more reactive and react violently with water
In terms of their pharmaceutical applications, alkali metals
are not directly useable mainly because of their reaction behavior in aqueous media.
are important as oral rehydration salts
NaCl and KCl
can be prepared by the direct combination of the elements, that is, the reaction of an alkali metal with halogens
alkali metal halides
are very soluble in water, which is important for a potential pharmaceutical application, and partly soluble in organic solvents.
Alkali metal halides
Alkali metal oxides can be synthesized by
by heating alkali metals in an excess of air
used in the treatment of BD (bipolar disorder)
Lithium bicarbonate or citrate
used in over-the-counter drugs as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) against urinary-tract infections
Potassium bicarbonate
Sodium carbonate is produced by the so-called
Solvay process
one of the most important industrial processes, which was developed in the 1860s by
Solvay process
Solvay process developed in the 1860s by
Ernest Solvay
extensive uses ranging from glass production to its application as a water softener
Na2CO3
meaning stone
“lithos”
Lightest and smallest (smallest ionic radius of all known metals) solid element
Lithium
A soft, silvery metal. It has the lowest density of all metals. It reacts vigorously with water; lowest reactivity within the alkali metals
Lithium
Use: batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles; also used in some non-rechargeable batteries for heart pacemakers, toys and clocks
Lithium
