What are Alkali Metals? Common Properties of Alkali Metals
Alkali metals are soft, malleable, ductile, and are good conductors of heat and electricity. They are very reactive metals that do not occur freely in nature. Except for cesium, which has a gold sheen, alkali metals are white. Nearly 75% of all the elements in the Periodic Table are classified as metals which are detailed in the List of Metals.
Elements classified as Alkali Metals
The 6 elements classified as "Alkali Metals" are located in Group 1 elements of the Periodic Table. Elements classified as Alkali Metals are therefore any of a group of soft, low-density, low-melting, highly reactive metallic elements which are powerful reducing agents. Except for cesium, which has a gold sheen, alkali metals are white. They have one electron in their outer shell, and therefore react easily with other elements and are found in nature only in compounds. The alkali metals form alkali solutions when they combine with water (especially when heated). When combined with water Alkalies form strongly basic solutions with an acrid taste.
Common properties of Alkali Metals
The elements classed as Alkali metals have the following properties in common:
- Very soft - can be cut easily with a knife
- Low melting and boiling points compared to most other metals
- Low densities (lithium, sodium & potassium will float on water)
- React quickly with water
- Their hydroxides and oxides dissolve in water to form alkaline solutions
Alkali Metals List - Chemical Elements in the Periodic Table
The elements contained in the classification of Alkali Metal list are as follows:
