Alkali metal

An alkali metal is an element from group 1 of the periodic table, that is, one of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium or francium.^{[Note 1]}^[1] The name (originally "alkaline metals") has been in use since the early nineteenth century, and connects the metals with the strong alkalis such as caustic soda.^[2]

Notes and references

↑ Although hydrogen is often placed in group 1 of the periodic table, for reasons of symmetry, it is not considered to be an alkali metal.

↑ Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry; IUPAC Recommendations 2005; Royal Society of Chemistry: Cambridge, 2005; pp 51–52. ISBN 0-85404-438-8, <http://www.iupac.org/publications/books/rbook/Red_Book_2005.pdf>.
↑ Alkaline. In A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles; Oxford University Press, 1888; Vol. 1, p 224.

See also the corresponding article on Wikipedia.

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