Group 1 element forms an oxide having a relative mass of 62. Determine the metal.

The elements of the first group of the periodic table are alkali metals. The compounds exhibit valence 1. In oxides, the oxidation state is +1. General formula for oxides: E2O.

The relative molecular weight of a substance consists of the sums of the relative masses of all atoms of the elements in the composition of this substance. The relative atomic mass of oxygen is 16, the relative atomic mass of the metal is taken as n.

Then the relative molar mass will be (n * 2) + (1 * 16) = 62

Let’s solve the resulting equation.

2n + 16 = 62

2n = 62 – 16

2n = 46

n = 46: 2

n = 23

The relative atomic mass of the desired metal = 23. In the periodic table, this value corresponds to the metal sodium.

Answer: sodium