Question

What is the common feature of the electronic configuration of the alkali metals ?

Answer 1

• Alkali metals have one electron in their valence shell.
• The general electronic configuration is ${\mathrm{ns}}^1.$
• They form monovalent ions by losing the outer shell electron.
• $\mathrm{Na}-{\mathrm{e}}^{-}\to {\mathrm{Na}}^{+}(\mathrm{monovalent}\mathrm{ion})$

For example, the electronic configuration of sodium is $1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^{6}3{\mathrm{s}}^1.$