They get their name because their metals or oxides dissolve when placed in water and then become alkaline solutions. For this reason, these elements are rarely found in their natural state in nature and more commonly found as ionic compounds. These metals are solid at room temperature but have a low melting point and are very soft. An example of this would be potassium which can be cut with a knife. However, these metals are extremely reactive with water. When placed in water they produce hydrogen gas, heat and metal hydroxide. The salts in this group are very soluble in water because they have large ions and low densities that can easily be separated. This can be seen when salt (Na) is mixed with water and begins to dissolve forming salt water. Salt also happens to be the 4th most abundant element in the …show more content…
There are eleven elements in this group and they can be found bordering the dividing line between metals and nonmetals. Metalloids typically have a metallic appearance, but are very brittle and are poor electrical conductors. Because they are so brittle metalloids are not usually used for structural uses but can form alloys with other metals. Chemically they act as nonmetals and most of their physical and chemical properties are intermediate in nature. Metalloids and their compounds are also used in electronics, glasses, semiconductors, and pyrotechnics. Silicon (Si) has revolutionized the electronics industry since the early and mid-eighties. Modern electronics relies on the silicon in the integrated