Alkali Metals

Alkali Metals

Alkali metals are the first family of the Periodic Table. They have one electron in their outer orbitals. In a chemical reaction, this outer electron is lost to form an ion with a single positive charge. "Alkali" means basic; when these metals combine with nonmetals, the result is a base. They are silverwhite, malleable, soft, and soluble in water. An alkali metal isolated in nature is rare because it reacts so readily with many nonmetals, especially the halogens. [LM] {CI}