What is Alkaline Earth Metals? | Types, Definition, Structure, Function & Facts
What is Alkaline Earth Metals?
Alkaline earth metals are a group of elements in the periodic table. They are all in the second column of the periodic table. They are sometimes called group 2 elements.
What Elements are Alkaline Earth Metals?
he alkaline earth metal elements include beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium.
Get Free Counseling
What are the similar properties of Alkaline Earth Metals?
The alkaline earth metals have many of the same properties, including:
They are silvery, shiny and relatively soft metals.
They are quite reactive under standard conditions.
They have two valence electrons outside that they lose easily.
They all occur in nature, but are found only in compounds and minerals, not in their elemental form.
They react with halogens to form compounds called halides.
All but beryllium react strongly with water.
They tend to form ionic bonds, with the exception of beryllium which forms covalent bonds.
Order of Abundance
The most abundant alkaline earth metal on Earth is calcium, which is the fifth most abundant element in the earth’s crust. Below we have provided the list in order:
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Barium
- Strontium
- Beryllium
- Radium
Interesting Facts about Alkaline Earth Metals
They burn with flames of different colors as follows: beryllium (white), magnesium (bright white), calcium (red), strontium (dark red), barium (green) and radium (red).
The name “alkaline earth” comes from an old name for oxides of the elements. They are said to be alkaline because they form solutions with a pH greater than 7, making them basic or “alkaline”.
Radium is formed from the decay of uranium. It is very radioactive and dangerous to handle.
Calcium and magnesium are very important for animal and plant life. Calcium plays an important role in helping us build strong bones and magnesium is used to help regulate body temperature.
British chemist Sir Humphry Davy was the first to isolate many alkaline earth metals, including calcium, strontium, magnesium and barium.
Radium was discovered by scientists Marie and Pierre Curie.
Radium, barium, and strontium have few industrial uses, while magnesium and calcium have many industrial and manufacturing uses.