Sodium is an example of an alkali metal. The alkali metals are found in the leftmost column of the periodic table, known as Grou
p 1. Use the interactive periodic table to explore the properties of the following alkali metals: lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), and cesium (Cs). The animations demonstrate a chemical property common to alkali metals: they react with water. How does the reactivity vary among this group of elements? Why might patterns like this be useful to scientists?
The reactivity greatens the farther you go down on the periodic table. Lithium will have the weakest reaction, and cesium will have the greatest reaction. Patterns like this are useful to scientists because it shows which elements are the most reactive and which aren't. The farther down and to the left you go within the periodic table, the more reactive the elements become. The farther up and to the right you go, the less reactive they become.
