alkali metal

noun, Chemistry

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

Origin

1880-85

Examples from the web for alkali metal

The alkali metal was then released by shaking the reactor and breaking the break-seal on the alkali metal-containing ampoule.

British Dictionary definitions for alkali metal

alkali metal

noun

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

alkali metal in Medicine

alkali metal n.
Any of a group of soft, white, low-density, low-melting, highly reactive metallic elements, including lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium.

alkali metal in Science

alkali metal
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.