What are the general properties of alkali metals?

Alkali metals are soft sivery grey metals which react vigourous to violently with water producing a hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

The alkali metals are the least electronegative in . Preferring to lose the outer electron to form a cation of +1 oxidation state. Lithium is the lightest element of the alkali metal group that reacts vigourously with water to form LiOH. Sodium is a bit more reactive because of increased distance between the nucleus and the outer s electron. The further away the outer electron from the nucleus the more reactive the alkali metal.