When the alkali metals are cut, they initially appear shiny grey but quickly become dull and white as they react with oxygen in the air. This is known as tarnishing. Sodium tarnishes more quickly than ...

When the alkali metals react with the different halogens (Group 7 of the periodic table), the group of compounds formed are known as the alkali metals halides. Due to the fact that there are a number ...

In this video excerpt from NOVA's "Hunting the Elements," New York Times technology columnist David Pogue examines how atomic structure determines reactivity. Meet Theo Gray, chemist and author, who ...

Metals are good conductor of heat and electricity; they are hard, fusible, ductile etc. About 91 elements in the periodic table out of 118 are metals rest are non-metals and metalloids. Metals are ...

The news broke that a railroad car, loaded with pure sodium, had just derailed and was spilling its contents. A television reporter called me for an explanation of why firefighters were not allowed to ...