The P eriodic Tab le

Alkaline Earth Metals

The alkaline earth metals are in the second group of the periodic table. Some characteristics of alkaline earth metals are:

• An oxidation number of +2 which makes them very reactive

• Not found freely in nature

• Present in the earth's crust but not in their basic form

• Distributed in rock structure

• Two electrons in their outer shell

• High boiling points

• High melting points

• Low density

• Low electron affinity

• Low electronegativity

• Silver in color

• Ductile

• Malleable

• React easily with the halogens and water

• Softer and stronger than most other metals (except the alkali metals)

The alkaline earth metals are:

Barium

Beryllium

Calcium

Magnesium

Radium

Strontium