The physical and chemical properties of the alkali metals can be readily explained by their having an ns1 valence electron configuration, which results in weak metallic bonding.
ðə fˈɪzɪkəl ænd kˈɛmɪkəl pɹˈɑːpɚɾiz ʌvðɪ ˈælkəlˌaɪ mˈɛɾəlz kæn biː ɹˈɛdili ɛksplˈeɪnd baɪ ðɛɹ hˌævɪŋ ɐn ˌɛnˈɛs wˈʌn vˈeɪləns ᵻlˈɛktɹɑːn kənfˌɪɡjɚɹˈeɪʃən, wˌɪtʃ ɹɪzˈʌlts ɪn wˈiːk mətˈælɪk bˈɑːndɪŋ.