What are some facts on alkali metals?

Answer 1

Alkali metals are found in Group 1 of the Periodic Table.

Their factors include being soft enough to cut and have low melting points and densities too. They all react viciously with water, releasing hydrogen and forming hydroxides. They stain rapidly even in dry air. They are never found un-combined in nature. Decreasing down the periodic table (increasing atomic number) the alkali metals are: lithium,

sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium and francium.

The alkali metals are the elements Lithium, Sodium, Potassium,

Rubidium, Caesium and Francium. They are grouped together

because they all behave similarly (except with different strengths) and together form Group 1 of the Periodic Table.

They are in fact very soft metals that can be cut with a knife. They do not occur naturally because they react readily with air and moisture and so need to be stored under oil.

One of the signature reactions of alkali metals is their reaction with water to form alkaline solutions, for example sodium reacts with water to form sodium

hydroxide.

The reaction of alkali metals with water is pretty vigorous and as we see in the video clip as we go down Group 1 of the Periodic Table, from Lithium to Caesium, things get more and more frightening.

Lithium is used to make

rechargeable batteries and

lightweight alloys. Some of its

compounds are used as mood

stabilising drugs.

Sodium (vapour) is used in bright yellow street lights. It is also used as a heat transfer agent in some types nuclear reactor. Sodium salts are

essential to life - ordinary table salt is sodium chloride.

Potassium salts are used as

fertilisers, such as potassium

chloride which used to be called chloride of potash. Potassium nitrate is one of the components of

gunpowder. Potassium salts are also essential to life.

Rubidium and Caesium have a

number of specialist uses such as the use of Caesium in atomic clocks that are very accurate and Rubidium, used in specialist glasses. Francium is an extremely rare metal mainly

because it readily undergoes

radioactive decay with a half life of less than 22

minutes.

Due to the lack and short half life, there are not many uses for francium other than scientific research.

Proven from my research I can tell that there are many benefits we can consider when using alkali metals for example: it helps people with

medicine issues, can contribute to batteries in a mobile and is a factor of glass for lenses or tubes inside TV's. Lithium is the main source and can be used for all sorts of

technology.

I hope the above information helps you

Yours sincerely, ROFL SKATEBOARD a registered trademark of the famous user ROFL PANCAKE which also can be found in group 1 of the periodic table

Answer 2

they are called alkali metals

The alkali metals exist in group one of the periodic table; as such, they are in the s-block. The electron configuration for each alkali metal ends in ns1. When represented in an Aufbau diagram, the outer shell electron has an "up" spin. Because of their single outer shell electron, alkali metals react well with halogens.

Answer 3

The alkali metals exist in group one of the periodic table; as such, they are in the s-block. The electron configuration for each alkali metal ends in ns1. When represented in an Aufbau diagram, the outer shell electron has an "up" spin. Because of their single outer shell electron, alkali metals react well with halogens.

Answer 4

they are important because they in self raising they help it rise so it should rise when its put in an ove

Answer 5

Sodium, Potassium (Na, K)