alkali metal


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

Origin of alkali metal

1
First recorded in 1880–85

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British Dictionary definitions for alkali metal

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

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Scientific definitions for alkali metal

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. See Periodic Table.

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