Alkali Metals

The chemical elements lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), caesium (Cs), and francium make up the Alkali Metals (Fr). They make up group 1, which is located in the s-block of the periodic table, along with hydrogen. Since all alkali metals have an s-orbital for their outermost electron, these metals share a lot of the same physical characteristics. The periodic table's group trends in characteristics are best shown by the alkali metals, whose elements display well-defined homologous behaviour. In honour of its chief ingredient, this group of elements is commonly referred to as the lithium family. At normal temperature and pressure, all of the bright, soft, extremely reactive alkali metals rapidly shed their outermost electron to create cations with charge positive. They can only be found naturally as salts and never as free elements; Thus, they must be kept beneath oil to prevent air from reacting with them. The fifth alkali metal, caesium, is the most reactive metal there is. Water reacts with all alkali metals, although heavier alkali metals react more forcefully than lighter ones.