GCSE SCIENCE CHEMISTRY HIGH SCHOOL - Alkaline Earth Metals - Properties

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The Alkaline Earth Metals - Group 2 - Properties.
For shortcuts to this section, see Alkaline Earth Metals.

The alkali metals are in group 2 on the left of the periodic table.

The alkaline earth metals are all reactive,
losing their two outer electrons to form a 2+ ion with non-metals.
From calcium going down the group,
they have to be stored under oil, or they react with oxygen in the air.

They are less reactive than the alkali metals (Group 1).
Calcium and magnesium are fourth and fifth in the reactivity series.

They all have the common properties of metals,
being silvery-grey in colour,
and good conductors of heat and electricity.

They are less soft than the alkali metals,
and it is difficult to cut them with a knife.

The only two of the group which are studied at GCSE
are magnesium and calcium.
Strontium, barium and radium are all too reactive or unstable to be used.
All you need to know about these three
is that they have the same chemical properties as magnesium and calcium.

Beryllium is odd and is not studied at GCSE.
It would be expected to lose its two outer electrons like the rest of Group 2
but beryllium is so small that it doesn't like to lose two electrons.
Its compounds have covalent character!

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