Elements/properties at standard temperature and pressure (21/22 ° C-1 atmosphere)
| element | Charge on ion | reactivity | Electronegativity (numerical value) | Example of bonding/compound formed/type of bond | Melting point/ ° C | Boiling point/ ° C | Flame color |
| Li | +1, since it has 1 out of 3 electrons that can react easily. | Highly reactive forming hydroxides. | 0.98 (Pauline scale) | Ionic bond- for example, lithium reacting with fluoride to form lithium fluoride (LiF) | 180.5 ° C | 1342 ° C | Red |
| Na | +1, because it has only a valence electron in the outer shell, thus has ten electrons and eleven protons | More reactive than lithium. When exposed, sodium oxidizes instantly. | 0.93 (Pauline scale) | Ionic bond- for example, the ionic bond formed when sodium cation attracts the chlorine anion to form sodium chloride forming a NaCl compound. | 97.8 ° C | 883 ° C | Yellow |
| K | +1, since K loses an electron and acquires positive charge. | Potassium reacts very rapidly to form a hydroxide when it reacts with water. The reaction is an exothermic reaction. | 0.82 (Pauline scale) | Ionic bond- for example, potassium transfers readily the outer electron to bromine which accepts it, leading to eight outermost electrons forming KBr. | 63.25°C | 760°C | Violet |
| Rb | +1 even when dissolved in a container of water | Often vigorous reaction with water and even produces hydrogen gas. | 0.8 (Pauline scale) | Ionic bond- for example, the ionic bond formed when rubidium cation attracts the chlorine anion to form sodium chloride forming a RbCl compound. | 39.31°C | 688°C | Yellow-violet |
| Cs | +1 | Highly reactive. It explodes when it gets into contact with water. | 0.79 (Pauline scale) | Forms ionic bonds with all organic and inorganic anions. For example, caesium fluoride (CsF). | 28.44°C | 669°C | Blue |
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