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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]. All alkali metals react with water, with heavier alkali metals more reactive than lighter metals. The elements of the alkali metals include lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium. Alkali metal - Properties, Reactivity, Uses: The alkali metals have the high thermal and electrical conductivity, lustre, ductility, and malleability that are characteristic of metals. Each alkali metal atom has a single electron in its outermost shell. This valence electron is much more weakly bound than those in inner shells. As a result, the alkali metals tend to form singly charged positive ions (cations) when they react with nonmetals. The compounds that result have high melting points ... 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.