2.6 describe the reactions of these elements with water ad understand that the reactions provide a basis or their recognition as a family of elements

Elements of the same family react in a similar way all. Group 1 elements (e.g. lithium, sodium, potassium) react in a similar way with water, because of this, we can class them as a family of elements.

Lithium, sodium and potassium all react vigorously with water. The reaction produces 2 products, 1 is a metal hydroxide, this solution is alkaline as, when a metal reacts with oxygen, an alkali solution is produced. The other product is hydrogen (which is why you can see effervescence). The word equation for the reaction of sodium (for example) and water is...

sodium + water ---> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen

2Na (s) + 2H2O(l) ---> 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)