alkali metal
- noun
- /ˈæl.kə.laɪ ˈmɛt.əl/
- Specialized
:
metal alcalino
- In the activation process, the hydroxyl anions act as a reaction catalyst, while the alkali metal cations act as structure-forming elements.
Examples
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Lithium, an alkali metal, is used in rechargeable batteries due to its low density and high electrochemical potential.
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Bridgman's early electrical resistance measurements suggested that, under pressure, the simple alkali metals (the group I elements) might take on the characteristics of transition metals.
Academic text (1998) -
Solid C60, once it was produced in quantity, was shown to have a number of remarkable properties, including superconductivity after intercalation with alkali metal atoms.
Academic text (1999) -
Sodium and potassium are both examples of alkali metals that react vigorously with water.
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In chemistry classes, students often learn about the properties of alkali metals such as their softness and reactivity.
Synonyms
1
7.0
A soft, very reactive metal like sodium or potassium that easily loses one electron
How Metallic
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
4.2
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
5.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is transparently built from 'alkali' (a substance that yields a strongly basic solution) + 'metal' so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a metal associated with alkalis — i.e. metals that produce strongly basic/alkaline solutions (e.g. lithium, sodium, potassium). This is a straightforward compositional technical noun following common modifier+noun patterns and is likely understandable across languages with similar chemistry terminology.
Etymology
Alkali metal starts with the word alkali, from Arabic for plant ashes that were used to make a soap-like liquid, and metal, meaning a kind of element. These metals make a similar soapy 'alkali' when they react with water, so the name tells you they are metals that make 'alkali'.