Definition: What are the Alkali Metals The alkali metals, also known as the alkali metal family is a group of six elements characterized by common physical and chemical properties, a similar electron configuration, and shared periodic trends. All the alkali metals are found in nature, but being highly reactive, they do not occur freely in their pure form [1]. Alkali metals are the six different chemical elements found in the first column of the periodic table: lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs) and francium (Fr). The alkali metals group is part of the S-block of elements in the periodic table, that along with hydrogen, helium, calcium and others, have their outermost electron in an S-orbital. Alkali metals are the first group of s-block elements that are found on the leftmost side of the periodic table. Alkali metals are the most electropositive elements on the periodic table as they easily lose electrons. These metals formed various useful compounds with halides, oxygen, and sulfur. Alkali metals are defined as a group of elements in the periodic table that share similar properties, characterized by their highly reactive nature and tendency to lose their outermost electron to form a +1 cation.
