Alkaline Earth Metals
There are six elements belonging to this group (group 2):
Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Barium, Strontium, and Radium. They are found primarily buried in the earth. Sir Humphry Davy first obtained magnesium, calcium, and strontium by electrolysis. Friedrich Wöhler discovered Beryllium. Marie Curie discovered Radium. Alkaline Earth Metals are too reactive to be found in nature (except as their compounds). They react with halogens to form halides Properties: All have a silver luster They are good conductors of electricity They burn with distinctive colors (green, red, and white) Alkaline earth metals become increasingly soluble with a decrease in the temperature. They have two valence electrons which they readily lose Reacts with acids and water to form hydrogen gas Individual Uses: Beryllium is used instead of glass in x-ray tubes because it lets more radiation through Magnesium is a key component of chlorophyll and is used in construction Radium was formerly used in medicine to treat various kinds of cancer Strontium is used in highway flares. |