Definition of Alkaline Earth Metals



Alkaline earth metals are the elements belonging to the second group of the periodic table. They are also known as the s-block elements as their outer orbital is s which is completely filled with 2 electrons. The alkaline earth metals are beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium.

 


These elements have a capacity to lose their outer shell and acquire an oxidation state of +2. Consequently, we can say that the alkaline earth metals form cationic species. These metals have a shiny appearance and are less reactive as compared to alkali metals. All the members of this group occur naturally but radium is formed as a result of a decay reaction that happens between uranium and thorium.


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