What is the difference between alkali metals and other metals?

The following characters make alkali metals differ from other metals:
1)found group 1 of the periodic table
2)are very reactive metals that do not occur freely in nature
3)they are softer than most other metals
4)have one valence electron
5)have lower ionizing energy
6)low melting point
7)hydroxides are strongly basic
8)carbonates do not decompose
9)nitrates gives corresponding nitrates and oxygen as products
10)bicarbonates exist in solid form at room temp
11)forms +1 cations
12)they form compounds similar to each other
13)they each have one outer energy level elctron
14)unlike halogens the reactivity of metals increases down the group
15)good conductors of heat and electricity