The Alkali Metals: General Physical and Chemical Properties and Why They Have Those Properties

• one electron in their outer shell
• they are in the first column of the periodic table
• malleable
• the atoms that are closely packed together can roll over into new positions without breaking the metallic bonds.
• ductile
• same reason as why they are malleable
• good conductors of heat and electricity
• The delocalised electrons are free to move throughout the structure
• softer than most other metals
• they have large atomic radii relative to their atomic mass, and so their metallic bonds are weak
• very reactive
• they only have one electron in their outer shell, so they always want to be bonded to something else
• reactions with water form hydroxides and dissolve to form alkaline solutions, which turn universal indicator purple
• they will always want to react with water in this way

Bentor, Yinon. "Periodic Table: Alkali Metals." Chemical Elements.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2013. <http://www.chemicalelements.com/groups/alkali.html>

"The alkali metals - trends in reactivity."BBC GCSE Bitesize. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/edexcel_pre_2011/patterns/groupsrev2.shtml>

http://www.chemguide.co.uk/atoms/structures/metals.html

http://www.meritnation.com/ask-answer/question/why-are-alkali-metals-soft-also-why-are-they-good-reduc/the-s-block-elements/2930064