The first family contains only one element, hydrogen. Because hydrogen, the simplest atom has only one atom, it can act like both Alkali metals (which have one outer electron) or like noble gasses (which have full energy levels.) Hydrogen is a diatomic element, meaning that its atoms exist in pairs. Hydrogen can react with: oxygen (to form water), alkali metals (to form acids) and active metals (to form metallic hydrides). Practically hydrogen has been used as rocket fuel for decades and more recently as hybrid car fuels. .
The next family, alkali metals, is extremely chemically reactive. In fact they are the most reactive of all the metals rarely existing alone in nature. They are excellent conductors of electricity (sodium and potassium) are used carry electricity even in the human body. The alkali earth metals Group IIA are like alkali metals, except for the fact that they are extremely water-soluble. Magnesium and calcium reacts violently with water causing what is commonly known as hard water. Alkali earth metals are used in aircraft, automobiles, and boats as well as building materials. The next groups, often called transition metals, are broken into two parts, transition metals and inner transition metals. The inner transition metals include such rare as metals uranium and plutonium. The next family post-transition metals and metalloids include such semiconductors as boron, silicon and aluminum. While some of these metals are hyperactive, some are relatively stable because their electronegativities are stronger than other elements. Semiconductors and metalloids have common uses as conductors of electricity, glass ingredients, and computer chips. The next few families contain only a few members.
The carbon family, as its name implies, contains only carbon. Carbon is the basis of things such as diamonds, charcoal, and pencil lead. Carbon is extremely unreactive in compliance with the trend.