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Why the alkali metals are soft?

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Alkali metals have large atomic size with only one valence electron. Terefore, they have weak metallic bonding between the atoms. Due to the presence of weak metallic bonding alkali metals are soft and can be cut with a knife. ii) Reactivity of metals depends on ionization energy or ionization enthalpy. read more

Alkali metal atoms are large in size, close packing of metal atoms in metallic crystal is weak, hence alkali metals are soft.The alkali metals are soft because its conductivity is less. read more

The softness of alkali metals has to do with metallic bonding in terms of bonding and anti bonding orbitals. In molecular orbitals, there are the s, p, d orbitals with corresponding anti-bonding orbitals. For alkali metals, the s orbital is only partially filled. read more

Alkali metals have large atomic size with only one valence electron. Terefore, they have weak metallic bonding between the atoms. Due to the presence of weak metallic bonding alkali metals are soft and can be cut with a knife. read more

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