Alkali Metals

Alkali Metals

Enjoy these interesting alkali metals facts and properties. Learn what makes lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium and francium different from other metals in the periodic table of elements.

Lithium (Li)

Atomic number 3

Under normal conditions lithium is the lightest of all metals. Lithium only appears naturally as part of a compound.

Sodium (Na)

Atomic number 11

Sodium is a silvery white metal that is soft enough to be cut with a knife at room temperature.

Potassium (K)

Atomic number 19

Potassium only occurs in nature as ionic salt. It is found as part of minerals and dissolved in sea water.

Rubidium (Rb)

Atomic number 37

Rubidium was discovered in 1861. It gives a reddish violet color when burned in a a flame.

Caesium (Cs)

Atomic number 55

Caesium has a melting point of 28 °C (83 °F), is one of only five metals that are liquid at or near room temperature (the others being mercury, francium, gallium and rubidium).

Francium (Fr)

Atomic number 87

Francium was the last element discovered in nature and it is extremely rare, scientists predict that only 20 to 30 grams of it exists on Earth.

Metal Facts

Enjoy these fascinating metal facts. Metals are chemical elements that are used in a number of different ways. Read on and learn some interesting facts about metals.

• Metals are usually solid, good conductors of electricity and heat, shiny when clean, strong and malleable (meaning they can be bent and shaped).
• Gold is shiny and doesn’t corrode, this means it is a great metal for making jewelry. 
• The chemical symbol used for silver is Ag, this comes from the Latin word for silver, argentum.

• While aluminum is the most common metal found in the Earth's crust, the most common metal found on Earth is iron, mostly because it makes up such a large part of the Earth's core.

• Copper is a good conductor of electricity and is often used for making wires.

• At room temperature, mercury is the only metal that is in liquid form.

• Aluminum is a good conductor of heat and is often used to make cooking pots.

• Alkali metals such as sodium, potassium, rubidium, ceasium and francium are extremely reactive elements, just putting them in water can result in an explosion! They are carefully stored in oil to prevent this happening.
• Tungsten has a very high melting point, after carbon it has the second highest melting point of all elements.

• Metals are strong and are useful for making tools, buildings, bridges and other structures where strength is important.

• Steel is an important alloy (combination of metals) that is created from a mixture of metals, mostly iron. There are many different types of steel including stainless steel, galvanized steel and carbon steel. Steel is commonly used to make a number of products including knives, machines, train rails, cars, motors and wires.

• Bronze is a metal alloy made from copper and tin. Copper makes up the larger amount, usually between 80 to 95%.