Alkali metals react vigorously with oxygen, halogens, and water to form oxides, halides, and hydroxides respectively. These reactions are highly exothermic and can be quite violent. The hydroxides formed by these reactions are strong bases that readily dissolve in water.

Sodium is one of the alkali metal in periodic table. It is a very active silver-colored metal. It is soft and lighter than water. It reacts with water, oxygen, chlorine and alcohols. They exist as table salt in ocean and salty lake, or in the rock. Sodium metal is extracted from the molten sodium chloride by electrolysis.

Potassium and sodium are both highly reactive metals, so their elementary substance do not exist in nature; they usually form compounds with other elements. The common sodium compund include: oxide, Peroxide, salt.

The chemical and physical property of potassium are similar to the alkali metal sodium. It reacts more actively with water(purple flame), oxygen, chlorine and alcohols. Potassium metal is manufactured from electrolysis of molten potassium chloride.

Potassium is the seventh most abundant element in the Earth's crust. Its monomers don't exist in nature. It is enriched in ore, soil and dried salt lakes. There are 4 types of potassium in soil (potassium in solution, exchangeable potassium, non-exchangeable potassium, and potassium in ores).