why the elements of group IA are generally known as alkali metals?

Dear farrah

Alkali metals are named alkali metals because they are extremely reactive to hydrogen (H) Atomic unit (1)

There are 6 alkali metals that are all in order that include

Lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium and francium

Alkali metals are extremely reactive to hydrogen. When an alkali metal is placed in water, the hydrogen atoms split off the oxygen and are attracted towards the alkali metal. When hydrogen is lit by itself it is extremely reactive as it combusts. Therefore the more water it is in, the more powerful. When the hydrogen atoms break off and are attracted to the alkali metal, the hydrogen atoms start revolving arond the alkali metal, as they gain in speed, friction builds up causing heat that therefore creates them to explode.

all these meatl is placed in group 1A because each element the valence electron configuration is ns¹, where n is the period number.

Hydrogen, with a solitary electron, is usually placed at the top of Group 1 of the periodic table, but it is not considered an alkali metal; rather it exists naturally as a diatomic gas. Removal of its single electron requires considerably more energy than removal of the outer electron for the alkali metals.

     
Please feel free to post as many doubts on our discussion forum as you can.
If you find any question Difficult to understand - post it here and we will get you
the answer and detailed  solution very  quickly.

 We are all IITians and here to help you in your IIT JEE preparation.

All the best.
 
Regards,
Askiitians Experts
Badiuddin