Since they are alkali metals which react vigorously with most compounds in the environment, especially water. They need to be separated from the environment lest they explode.
Group 1 Metals
The oxidation numbers for the first 20 elements in the periodic table are typically as follows: Group 1 elements: +1; Group 2 elements: +2; Group 13 elements: +3; Group 14 elements: +4 or -4; Group 15 elements: -3; Group 16 elements: -2; Group 17 elements: -1; Group 18 elements: 0. Keep in mind that oxidation numbers can vary in different compounds and contexts.
Potassium is in group 1 and the group elements are hydrogen, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, francium
Group 1 elements have an oxidation number of +1.
Group IA or group 1 elements are known as alkali metals.
Group 1 elements are more reactive than that of group 2 elements.
Elements in group 1 (alkali metals) have 1 valence electron. This single electron is in the outermost energy level of the atom, making these elements very reactive and likely to lose this electron to achieve a stable electron configuration.
alkali metals (group 1 elements)
Group 1 elements a.k.a. Alkali metals lose 1 electron to form 1+ ions
Group 1 elements are metallic in nature. They have 1 electron in their outermost octet.
alkali metals
The atoms of the elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons. This means that they react with other elements in a similar way. For example group 1. All the atoms in group 1 react with water and oxygen, so they have to be kept in paraffin-oil. Another example is group 18. They don't react with anything. The atoms of the same row have the same electron shells.