Chemistry - Alkali Metals

The Alkali Metals

• The alkali metals are silvery, until they react with air and tarnish. This is why they are kept in oil, to prevent them tarnishing. 
• They are soft metals and can be cut easily with a knife. 
• They must be handled with forceps as they are corrosive (burn the skin). 

• Lithium - Li
• Sodium - Na
• Potassium - K
• Rubidium - Rb
• Caesium - Cs
• Francium - Fr

As you go down the Group 1, the alkali metals;

• they become more reactive. The outer electron is more easily lost because the electron is further away from the nucleus, the attraction to the nucleus becomes…