alkali metal

noun

, Chemistry.

1. any of the group of univalent metals including potassium, sodium, lithium, rubidium, cesium, and francium, whose hydroxides are alkalis.

alkali metal

noun

1. any of the monovalent metals lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, and francium, belonging to group 1A of the periodic table. They are all very reactive and electropositive

alkali metal

1. Any of a group of soft metallic elements that form alkali solutions when they combine with water. They include lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium. Except for cesium, which has a gold sheen, alkali metals are white. The alkali metals have one electron in their outer shell, and therefore react easily with other elements and are found in nature only in compounds.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of alkali metal¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Barium nitrate, used with a neutral solution, is the group reagent in the absence of metal ions other than the alkali metal ions.

From Project Gutenberg

Write the general formula of an alum, representing an atom of an alkali metal by X and an atom of a trivalent metal by Y.

From Project Gutenberg