Alkali metals are those elements which are present in the first group of the periodic table. They belong to a group of s-block elements. The electronic configuration of these elements show that they have half-filled outer s-orbital, hence they require one electron to achieve noble gas configuration. The alkali metal includes lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and francium.
The alkali metals are shiny in appearance and at standard conditions of temperature and pressure, they are highly reactive. They are quite soft and are tarnished when exposed to air. These metals are found in nature in the form of compounds. Sodium is known to be the most abundant of all.
