Alkali Metals
By: Anna Becker
The Basics
These chemical elements are found in Group 1 of the periodic table. They are the most reactive metals. They have low boiling and melting points. Most of the combine with oxygen and silica to form minerals in the Earth.
The Alkali Metals Include:
Lithium
Sodium
Potassium
Rubidium
Cesium
and Francium.
Flame Colors
Each element has a certain color of flame.
Lithium- Crimson
Sodium- Golden Yellow
Potassium- Pink
Rubidium- Red/Violet
Cesium- Blue/Violet
Uses
Lithium- Rechargeable batteries, pacemakers, phone batteries
Sodium- Used on roads during winters, a part of the human diet
Potassium- used for fertilizers, plant growth
Rubidium- vacuum tubes, ion engines
Cesium- atomic clocks, several organic compounds
Francium- there are no uses for this outside of scientific research