With reference to group 1 [IA] of the periodic table – fill in the blanks with the correct word:

The elements are …………… [light/heavy] …………… [metals/non metals] since their atomic size is …………… [large/small]. The energy binding the atoms is …………… [high/low] and hence the elements have …………… [high/low] melting points. The melting points of the elements …………… [increases/decreases] down the subgroup. The electropositive character …………… [increases/decreases] down the subgroup and the elements are strong …………… [reducing/oxidizing] agents. The element with electronic configuration 2, 8, 1 will have …………… [higher/lower] electron affinity and …………… [smaller/larger] atomic size than the element with electronic configuration 2, 1.

The elements are light metals since their atomic size is large. The energy binding the atoms is low and hence the elements have low melting points. The melting points of the elements decreases down the subgroup. The electropositive character increases down the subgroup and the elements are strong reducing agents. The element with electronic configuration 2, 8, 1 will have lower electron affinity and larger atomic size than the element with electronic configuration 2, 1.