| Reactions of Cesium |
 Reactions with water |
| Cesium metal reacts rapidly with water to form a colourless solution of cesium hydroxide (CsOH) and hydrogen gas. The resulting solution is basic because of the dissolved hydroxide. The reaction is very exothermic. The reaction is
so fast that if the reaction is carried out in a glass vessel, the glass container will shatter.
|
2Cs(s) + 2H2O 2CsOH(aq) + H2(g) |
| Reactions with air |
| The surface of cesium soon tarnishes because of reaction with oxygen and moisture from the air. If caesium is burned in air, the result is mainly formation of caesium superoxide, CsO2.
|
| Cs(s) + O2(g)CsO2(s) |
| Reactions with halogens |
| Cesium metal reacts vigorously with all the halogens to form cesium(I) halides. |
| 2Cs(s) + F2(g)CsF(s) |
| 2Cs(s) + Cl2(g)CsCl(s) |
| 2Cs(s) + Br2(g)CsBr(s) |
| 2Cs(s) + I2(g)CsI(s) |
| Reactions with acids |
| Cesium metal dissolves readily in dilute sulphuric acid to form solutions containing the aquated Cs(I) ion together with hydrogen gas.
|
| 2Cs(s) + H2SO4(aq)2Cs+(aq) + SO42-(aq) + H2(g) |
| Reactions with bases |
| Cesium metal reacts rapidly with water to form a colourless basic solution of cesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. The reaction continues even when the solution becomes basic. The resulting solution is basic because of the dissolved
hydroxide. The reaction is very exothermic. The reaction is so fast that if the reaction is carried out in a glass vessel,
the glass container will shatter.
|
| 2Cs(s) + 2H2O2CsOH(aq) + H2(aq) |
Cs(s)