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Reaction alkali metals with chlorine

Answer Text:
Reaction alkali metals with chlorine
- All alkali metals react with chlorine to form corresponding metal chlorides.
General procedure:
- A small piece of the alkali metal is cut and placed in a deflagrating spoon;
- It is then warmed and quickly lowered into a gas jar containing chlorine.
Precautions.
- The experiment should be done in a working fume chamber or in the open
Reason: Chlorine gas is poisonous.
- This experiment should not be attempted in the laboratory with potassium
Reason: the reaction is too explosive and very dangerous.
Observations:
Sodium:
- The metal bursts into a yellow flame.
- White fumes of sodium chloride are formed.
Equation: `2Na(s) + Cl_2(g) → 2NaCl(s)`
Lithium:
- The metal reacts less vigorously than sodium without bursting into a flame.
- White fumes of lithium chloride are formed.
Equation: `2Li(s) + Cl_2(g) → 2LiCl(s)`
Potassium:
- The metal bursts into a lilac flame.
- White fumes of potassium chloride are formed.
Equation: `2K(s) + Cl2(g) → 2KCl(s)`