Yes for instance.
once given the physical properties of the alkali metal you can be able to indicate the group and where you can find them in the periodic table. properties like it being soft and having relatively low melting point (Li, Na, K, RB, CS, Fr)
or once been said that it reacts with group 7 Elements that means we are quick to know it out of those elements.
now to answer your question specifically, if the information given upon says an element burns in air with a yellow flame. Then we are quick to say it's Sodium.
so yeah.