Overview of reactions of Group 1 elements

Group 1 elements like sodium exist in only two oxidation states as shown at the right. Thus the element only acts as a reductant (electron donor) giving a product containing M⁺.
 
In reaction of Group 1 elements as reductants

• with nonmetals, the number of electrons accepted depends on the element
  • with Group 17 elements X₂ → X^– (X= F, Cl, Br, I)
  • with Group 16 elements S → S^2-
  • with Group 15 elements N₂ → N^3– and P → P^3–
  The relative numbers of the nonmetal and metal in the product thus depends on the group in the periodic table in which the nonmetal is found as the product has an overall charge of zero to be consistent with the overall charge of zero on the reactants.
• toward binary compounds, the element in a positive oxidation state is the electron acceptor. Often sufficient electrons are accepted to produce the elemental form.
  
  For example in H₂O, H(+1) accepts electrons to form H₂.