Their monopositive ions are paramagnetic and contribute no colour to their salts, like those of the alkali metals.
ðɛɹ mˌɑːnoʊpˈɑːzᵻtˌɪv ˈaɪɑːnz ɑːɹ pˌæɹəmɐɡnˈɛɾɪk ænd kəntɹˈɪbjuːt nˈoʊ kˈʌlɚ tə ðɛɹ sˈɔlts, lˈaɪk ðoʊz ʌvðɪ ˈælkəlˌaɪ mˈɛɾəlz.