Alkaline_Earth_Metals_F_Block

Alkaline Earth Metals have an oxidation number of +2. This means that they have two electrons in their valence shell. Therefore, they are very reactive, and are not found free in nature, as they can easily give away the two electrons and have a full-valence shell. The most well-known alkaline earth metals are Magnesium and Calcium.

Magnesium...

Calcium...

Most compounds are IONIC and they are also INSOLUBLE in water.

They are Group 2 which is the second from the left of the periodic table.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

+Shiny

+Silvery

+White

+Malleable

+Harder than Group 1, The Alkali Metals

+Smaller atomic radii than Group 3, The Transition Metals

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:

+The reactivity is very high, meaning that they are very reactive

+Not reactive as Group 1 but more reactive than Group 3

+They tend to get more reactive as you go down the group. EX)Beryllium is less reactive than Magnesium

MELTING, BOILING POINT & DENSITY:

+Relatively High melting and Boiling point

+Higher melting point than Group 1 but lower melting point than Group 3

+Higher boiling point than Group 1 but lower boiling point than Group 3

+Low density

+Denser than Group 1 but less dense than Group 3

Beryllium(Be)

Magnesium(Mg)

Calcium(Ca)

Strontium(Sr)

Barium(Ba)

Radium(Ra)

They tend to get more reactive as you go down the group

EXPERIMENT-STRONTIUM AND BARIUM WITH WATER:

+We learned that Strontium and Barium both reacts well with cold water

+Also, Barium gives off hydrogen more qiukly than Strontium

+This experiment proves that Group 2, Alkaline Earth Metals, gets more reactive as you go down the group

EXTRA/INTERISTING INFORMATION:

+Group 2 metals are commonly seen in rocks in the Earth's crust. EX)Magnesium & Calcium

+Strontium Sulfide has luminiscent properties and is used in certain kinds of luminious paints

+For many years, Radium was used for treating cancerous tumors

+Because of the high-melting points in these Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals, some of these metals are used in aerospace applications, like rockets!

Good websites to visit for additional information:

Overall view of Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals (recommended!!)

http://www.chemsoc.org/viselements/pages/data/intro_groupii_data.html

Individual Pictures and Properties of each Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metal

http://www.chemtopics.com/elements/alkaline/alkaline.htm

Interesting and Specific uses, and physical traits of Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals

http://www.britannica.com/ebi/article-9272810