Alkaline Earth Metals
Important Information
What are they and what do they do?
Group 2 contains soft, silver metals that are less metallic in character than the Group 1 elements. Although many characteristics are common throughout the group, the heavier metals such as Ca, Sr, Ba, and Ra are almost as reactive as the Group 1 Alkaline Metals. All the elements in Group 2 have two electrons in their valence shells, giving them an oxidation state of +2. This enables the metals to easily lose electrons, which increases their stability and allows them to form compounds via ionic bonds. This is your local News Station, hoping you learned something!