Most strongly, I would argue that the Halogens are the family of elements that readily react with metals.
The family of elements that react readily with metals is the halogens. This group includes elements such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. Halogens are highly reactive nonmetals that readily form compounds with metals by gaining an electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
Elements that form salts by combining with metals are called halogens. All synthetic elements are radioactive. Elements that lie along the stair step line of the periodic table are metalloids.
the periodic table
Au or Pt are highly stable and they are noble metals as they do not react with oxygen readily
Most readily hydroxide ions (OH-) from water. Also, halogens react very readily (1:1 ratio). They are also readily oxidised. See the related video for reactions with water and oxygen
Alkali metals and earth alkali metals do react strongly with water.(Lithium, ..., Caesium) (Beryllium, ..., Barium)
Group 1 and group 2 elements are reactive metals and react readily with water. They also react readily at high temperatures with oxygen. Over the millenia any free deposits would react to form compounds.
Elements from the boron, carbon, pnictogen, chalcogen and halogen families (groups 13 to 17) react with metals.
== == When metals react with other elements, the atoms of the metals give up their valence electrons.
Elements that form salts by combining with metals are called halogens. All synthetic elements are radioactive. Elements that lie along the stair step line of the periodic table are metalloids.
the periodic table
inert
== == When metals react with other elements, the atoms of the metals give up their valence electrons.
== == When metals react with other elements, the atoms of the metals give up their valence electrons.
metals that do not react readily are known as inactive metals
Because it's "easier" for the elements to gain or loose just one electron, so they react more readily.
== == When metals react with other elements, the atoms of the metals give up their valence electrons.
Au or Pt are highly stable and they are noble metals as they do not react with oxygen readily