Alkaline Earth Metal Family
The Alkali Earth Metal family, also referred to Group 2A are all metals with 2 valence electrons. Like the Alkali metal family, they are also very reactive, especially with group 6A, the Oxygen family. They are called "alkaline" because they have a high pH value (Basic) when these compounds are mixed in solutions.
Who is in the alkaline earth metal family?
Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), Barium (Ba) and Radium (Ra).
Element 4
Be 9.0122
Beryllium- Beryllium was discovered by Louis-Nicholas Vauguelin in 1798. Berryllium is a carcinogenic and is very toxic.
Beryllium has high heat conductivity and is nonmagnetic. I is also used in nuclear reactors as an absorber of neutrons.
Watch Video @ periodicvideos.com | More information on @ chemicool.com
(photo: Alchemist-hp)
12
Mg 24.305
Magnesium - Magnesium was recognized as an element in 1755 by Joseph Black, a Scottish chemist. The name originates fromt he Greek word Magnesia, a district of Thessaly. Magnesium is a silvery-white, reasonably strong metal that has really good corrosion resistance. When it burns in air, magnesium produces a brilliant white light.
Watch Video @ periodicvideos.com | More information on @ chemicool.com
(photo: Warut Roonguthai)
20
Ca 40.078
Calcium - Calcium was used as far back as the Romans and was called calx. It was officially discovered by Sir Humphry Davy in 1808 in London. It is nontoxic and is an essential metal for al living organisms. It is a very soft metal that can be cut with a knife.
Watch Video @ periodicvideos.com | More information on @ chemicool.com
(photo:Matthias Zepper)
38
Sr 87.62
Strontium - Strontium is named after a village in Scotland near which the mineral was first discovered in 1790 by Adair Crawford. It is a grey/silvery metal that is softer than calcium and is even more reactive in water. When cut, it quickly turns a yellowish color due to the formation of strontium oxide (SrO).
Watch Video @ periodicvideos.com | More information on @ chemicool.com
(photo:Matthias Zepper)
56
Ba 137.33
Barium - Barium is a soft silvery metal that was discovered in 1808 by Sir Humphrey Davy in London. Metallic barium has few industrial uses, but has been historically used to scavenge air in vacuum tubes.
Watch Video @ periodicvideos.com | More information on @ chemicool.com
(photo:Matthias Zepper)
88
Ra (226)
Radium - Radium was discoverd in 1898 by Marie S. Curie and her husband Pierre. It is the heaviest of the alkaline earth metals and is intensely radioactive and resembles barium in its chemical behavior. Radium was formerly used in self-luminous paints for watches, clocks, and instrument dials.
Watch Video @ periodicvideos.com | More information on @ chemicool.com
Related Links
Understanding how to make Bohr Models
Understanding the Periodic Table and it's families
