Alkaline Metals

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The unique set of elements known as the alkaline earth metals are key components to humanity and life as we know it. Without them, many things that we both love and need would be gone. These remarkably diverse yet very similar elements that make up the alkaline earth metals family are: Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), Barium (Ba), and Radium (Ra). Although this family is often overshadowed by the infamous alkali metals, you will soon learn how spectacular and brilliant these metals really are and their value to human life.
The alkaline earth metals are an interesting group of elements that have many properties and uses in this world. To learn about them will help one learn more about the world around them. These metals are soft, shiny, silvery, and very reactive; although they are not as reactive as the alkali metals, the group of elements right next to them. Speaking of groups, the alkaline earth metals are in the left side and in group 2 of the periodic table. When forming ions, the alkaline metals usually lose 2 electrons to get a positive 2 charge and become more stable. This allows them to take part in ionic bonds, mostly with the halogen family because halogens are negatively charged in their ionic form. Because the alkaline metals are positively charged, they attract and form ionic bonds.
The alkaline earth metals form many compounds that are commonly found in nature. The ionic bonds these metals form with the halogen family are called metal halides. These bonds are not solely ionic; they can be a covalent bond in the case of beryllium. Additionally, all of the alkaline metals, except beryllium, can react with water to form alkaline hydroxides, compounds containing the hydroxide ion. However,...

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