Question

Is hydrogen an alkali metal?

Answer 1

Hint:The alkali metals are the elements of the first group in the periodic table. They have one valence electron in their outermost energy level. They have one valence electron in their outermost energy level. They are found in nature bonded with other atoms because they are so reactive.

Complete step-by-step answer:Alkali metals means a metal whose hydroxide is a water - soluble base. The term earth stands for the oxide mineral of an element. So, an alkali earth metals means a metal whose oxide has similar properties as that of an alkali.
If a metal oxide has the properties of an alkali, the hydroxide of the metal should be behaving like an alkali.
Alkali metals react with oxygen in the atmosphere and form normal oxides.
Now, hydrogen is an s – block element from the first group and first period element. And have the same valence electron as alkali metals but don’t have other properties similar to alkali metals.
The position of hydrogen is controversial in the periodic table because hydrogen is the only element without neutrons. It is a non-metal and is placed right above the group in the periodic table because it has similar electronic configuration to the alkali metals.
It varies greatly from the alkali metals as it forms cations more reluctantly than the other alkali metals.
The present position of hydrogen with alkali metals is not justifiable since it shows some properties of alkali metals and some properties of halogens.

Note:Not all the properties of hydrogen are different from alkali metals and also not all the properties are similar to the halogens. Similar to halogens it makes diatomic molecules and several covalent compounds.