Alkaline Earth Metals
Alkaline Earth Metals
The alkaline earth metals are a group of chemical elements in the periodic table with very similar properties. They are all shiny, silvery-white, somewhat reactive metals at standard temperature and pressure[1] and readily lose their two outermost electrons to form cations with charge 2+ and an oxidation state, or oxidation number of +2.[2].
The Alkaline Earth Metals are:
Beryllium
Magnesium
Calcium
Strontium
Barium
Radium
Because of their reactivity, the alkaline metals are not found free in nature
Uses of Alkaline Earth Metals
The alkaline earth metals include: beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium. beryllium is used to make some types of alloys (mixtures of two or more metals). Magnesium is also used in alloys for construction and in machinery like airplane parts. Calcium is important in building strong bones and used as a nutritional supplement. Calcium is also a part of the compound calcium carbonate which is a key component of cement. Strontium burns with a red color and is used in the manufacture of fireworks. Radium is radioactive and has medical applications such as cancer treatment, and as a tracer for medical imaging, although because safer radioactive elements have been discovered it is rarely used any more.