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What is true about the oxidation state of Group 1 elements when they form ions?

+2 oxidation state

0 oxidation state

-1 oxidation state

+1 oxidation state

The oxidation state of Group 1 elements, also known as alkali metals, is consistently +1 when they form ions. This is due to their electronic configuration; Group 1 elements have one electron in their outermost shell, making them highly reactive. In order to achieve a stable electron configuration, they tend to lose this single valence electron.

When an alkali metal loses this electron, it results in a positively charged ion, or cation. The loss of the one electron leads to a +1 charge, which reflects its oxidation state. This characteristic is uniform across all alkali metals, including lithium, sodium, potassium, and others in the group.

Understanding this property is essential when studying chemical reactions involving these metals, as their +1 oxidation state directly influences their reactivity, bonding behavior, and the nature of compounds they form.

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