Question

Why are alkali metals not found in nature?

Answer 1

Hint: You can get an idea to solve this question if you could write the general electronic configuration of alkali metals. These are the elements present in the first group of the periodic table. Also, keep in mind that the free existence of an element depends on the reactivity of the element.

Complete step by step answer:
-The alkali earth metals are also called s- block elements because these elements have one electron each in the valence s- subshell of their atoms. Because of this one electron in valence subshell, they lose it easily, owing to their low ionization energies.
-Alkali metals include the elements lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium.
-These are called alkali metals since they readily dissolve in water to form soluble hydroxides, which are strongly alkaline in nature.
-They react strongly with water and because of this, they have to be stored in oil.
-They are never found in nature uncombined because they are unstable and they react fast to other elements easily by losing the electron. They bond well with all elements except the noble gases. When these elements are in the air, they quickly turn black.
Therefore, we can conclude that alkali metals are highly reactive chemically and do not exist in a free or native state and are not easily found in nature.

Note:
You should know that the same is basically true for the IIA group alkaline earth metals. The Alkaline earth metals have 2s electrons. Like the IA group metals of the IIA group are much more stable if they lose both electrons.