what are the uses of alkali metals?

Answer 1

The Alkali Metals are:
Lithium
Sodium
Potassium
Rubidium
Cesium
Francium

Both lithium metal and its compounds have many uses.

lithium stearate is mixed with oils to make all-purpose and high-temperature lubricants
lithium hydroxide is used to absorb carbon dioxide in space vehicles
lithium is alloyed with aluminium, copper, manganese, and cadmium to make high perfomance alloys for aircraft
Bahnmetall consists of lead containing 0.04% lithium, 0.7% calcium and 0.6% sodium is harder than pure lead and was used for railroad car bearings in Germany.
compounds such as LiAlH4 and organolithium reagents (LiMe, LiPh, etc.) are very important as reagents in organic chemistry
lithium metal has the highest specific heat of any solid element and so heat transfer applications
various nuclear applications
lithium is sometimes used as battery anode material (high electrochemical potential) and lithium compounds are used in dry cells and storage batteries
lithium is used in the manufacture of special high strength glasses and ceramics
sometimes, lithium-based compounds such as lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) are used as drugs to treat manic-depressive disorders.

Sodium:Sodium metal is used in the preparation of tetraethyl lead, PbEt4, an important anti-knock reagent in leaded petrol (gasoline) - fortunately being phased out in many countries because of lead pollution problems
sodium metal is used in the preparation of titanium metal from TiCl4
the metal is used in the manufacture of sodamide, sodium cyanide, sodium peroxide, and sodium hydride
the metal is used in the reduction of organic esters, and in the preparation of organic compounds
the alloy with potassium, NaK, is an important heat transfer agent and a good chemical reducing agent (as some proportions of Na and K are liquid at room temperature).
sodium compounds including "common salt" (sodium chloride, NaCl), "soda ash" (sodium carbonate, Na2CO3), "baking soda" (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3, "bicarb"), and "caustic soda" (sodium hydroxide, NaOH), are important to the paper, glass, soap, textile, petroleum, chemical, and metal industries
sodium vapour is used in lamps for street lighting
table salt - don't use too much!

Potassium: The superoxide KO2 is used in breathing apparatus where moisture in the breath and carbon dioxide reacts with it to release oxygen [2KO2 + H2O + 2CO2 2KHCO3 + O2 ]
the alloy of potassium with sodium (NaK) is used as a heat-transfer medium in nuclear reactors. The alloy is liquid at ambient temperature and is a good reducing agent in the chemistry laboratory
fertilizers - usually as the chloride, sulphate, nitrate, or carbonate
possium nitrate, KNO3, and potassium chlorate, KClO3, are used in fireworks
potassium bromide, KBr, was used as an antaphrodisiac - oh dear!
potassium permanganate, KMnO4, is an important oxidizing agent
low-sodium salt
potassium hydroxide is used in the preparation of potassium phosphates for liquid detergents

RIbidium: rubidium is easily ionized, and so has possible use in "ion engines" for space vehicles (but caesium is somewhat more efficient)
used as a "getter" in vacuum tubes
photocell component
used for making special glasses
RbAg4I5 has the highest room temperature conductivity of any known ionic crystal. At ambient temperature, its conductivity is about the same as dilute sulphuric acid, suggesting uses in thin film batteries

Caesium (cesium in USA) has relatively few uses and is not often encountered. Some uses include:


used as a catalyst in the hydrogenation of a few organic compounds
the metal can be used in ion propulsion systems. Although not usable in the earth's atmosphere, 1 kg of caesium in outer space could propel a vehicle 140 times as far as the burning of the same amount of any known liquid or solid. It is more efficient than rubidium.
used in atomic clocks
because of its high oxygen affinity, the metal is used as a "getter" in electron tubes
used in photoelectric cells and vacuum tubes
IR lamps

Francium has no uses.

Answer 2

Uses For Alkali Metals

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
what are the uses of alkali metals?

Answer 4

As elemental metals the only one I think that is used is Sodium. It is used by chemists in organic analysis in the Sodium bead\cyanide reduction test. Liquid Sodium is also used as a heat exchange fluid in fast breeder reactors.

It also is used in synthesis eg Sodium ethoxide and to prepare super dry ether.

Answer 5

React it with ammonia and it makes a good reducing agent...There is a formula for this but i cant remember it. This process is paramagnetic and because of the free electrons the solutions occupies more space than the sum of volumes of the metal and the ammonia.

Answer 6

alkali metals has a lot of uses ,, Li can be used in batteries as most of alkali metals has good application in electronics industry,, also they can be used as Metal carbides where they can produce hydro carbonic gases when dissolved in water,, Lithium hydride has good application in manufacturing life jackets used in ships and airplanes,, as it react with water and form hydrogen gas

Answer 7

The actual metals themselves .... nothing apart from GCSE classes. I think they need to be combined with another element to be useful. Like sodium chloride which is salt.

Answer 8

To create alkalis.
Sodium + Water=Sodium Hydroxide
Lithium + Water=Lithium Hydroxide
Calcium + Water=Calcium Hydroxide
and so on and so forth.

Answer 9

Don't quote me on this, but I think lithium has medical properties and I think potassium is used in a chloride salt, which is then used in various products.

Answer 10

Lithium is good for setting fire to water.