alkali metal Article

What are some properties of the alkali metals?

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

The alkali metals have low melting points. Lithium melts at 180.5 °C (356.9 °F); cesium melts at just 28.4 °C (83.1 °F). These elements are also excellent conductors of heat and electricity. The alkali metals are very reactive and so are usually found in compounds with other elements, such as salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl).