Elements in group 2 are called alkaline earth metals, the most similarity about the alkaline metals is which chemical properties they have.
<h2>Further Explanation
</h2><h3>Periodic table </h3>
- Periodic table is a table that contains elements arranged in columns called groups and rows called periods.
- Elements are arranged based on physical and chemical properties such that elements in the same group will have similar physical and chemical properties.
<h3>Chemical families </h3>
- Based on the chemical properties elements belong to a family of elements sharing similar chemical or physical characteristics.
- Examples of common chemical families include; alkali metals, alkaline-earth metals, halogens and noble gases among others.
<h3>Alkaline-earth metals </h3>
- These are elements that are found in group 2 of the periodic table. Alkaline-earth metals include, Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium, and Radium.
Properties of Alkaline-earth metals
- Alkaline earth metals have a valence of two since they form ions by losing two electrons from their outermost energy levels.
- Unlike the Alkali metals, the earth metals have a smaller atom size and are not as reactive compared to alkali metals.
- Alkaline-earth metals are highly metallic and are good conductors of electricity.
- They react with water and steam to form metal hydroxide and metal oxides respectively
- They react with air to form metal oxides
- Reactivity of alkaline metals depends on the ease of losing electrons, thus the reactivity increases down the group as the number of energy levels increases.
- Additionally, alkaline-earth metals have low electronegativities and low electron affinities
Keywords: Chemical families, alkaline-earth metals, reactivity
<h3>Learn more about: </h3>
Level: High school
Subject: Chemistry
Topic: Periodic table and chemical families
Sub-topic: Alkaline-earth metals
