ALKALINE EARTH METALS
Group 2
By- Nicole Ferruggio, Melanie Kirk, Catherine
Norbury, and Michael O’Connor
ORIGIN OF NAME
The Alkaline Earth Metals are named after their
oxides, the alkaline earths.
 The oxides are basic (alkaline) when combined
with water
 Antione Lavoisier suggested the alkaline earths
may be metal oxides
 Humphrey Davey confirmed Lavoisier’s
hypothesis
 Earth-used to describe a group of substances that
were resistant heat and insoluble in water.
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BERYLLIUM
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Discovered in 1797 by N.L. Vauquelin
The name is derived from the Greek name for beryl,
‘beryllo,’ which means crystal
A silvery-white metal, relatively soft and has a low density
Used in gears and cogs, particularly in the aviation
industry
Group: 2
Melting Point: 1287°C
Period: 2
Boiling Point: 2468°C
Block: s
Density: 1.85 g/mL
Atomic Number: 4
Atomic Mass: 9.012 amu
State at 20°C: Solid
Isotopes: 9Be
Electron Configuration: 2𝑠 2
MAGNESIUM
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Discovered in 1755 by Joseph Black
Name derived from Magnesia, a district in Greece
A silvery-white metal that ignites in air and burns with
bright light
Useful in airplane and car construction
Group: 2
Melting Point: 650°C
Period: 3
Boiling Point: 1090°C
Block: s
Density: 1.74 g/mL
Atomic Number: 12
Atomic Mass: 24.305 amu
State at 20°C: Solid
Isotopes: 24Mg
Electron Configuration: 3s²
CALCIUM
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Discovered in 1808 by Humphry Davy
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Name derived form the Latin, ‘calx,’ meaning lime
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A silvery-white, soft metal that tarnishes rapidly in air and reacts
with water
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Essential to all living things, found in bones and teeth
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5th most abundant metal in Earth’s crust
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Not found uncombined in nature
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Used in building stone, plaster and cement
Group: 2
Melting Point: 842°C
Period: 4
Boiling Point: 1484°C
Block: s
Density: 1.54 g/mL
Atomic Number: 20
Atomic Mass: 40.078 amu
State at 20°C: Solid
Isotopes: 40Ca
Electron Configuration: 4s²
STRONTIUM
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Discovered in 1790 by Adair Crawford
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Named after Strontain, a small town in Scotland
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A soft, silvery metal that burns in air and reacts with water
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Found in celestite and strontianite
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Used in fireworks and flares, toothpaste and glow-in-the-dark
paint
Strontium-90 is one of the best high-energy beta-emitters known,
and is used to generate electricity for space vehicles, remote
weather stations and navigation buoys
Group: 2
Melting Point: 777°C
Period: 5
Boiling Point: 1377°C
Block: s
Density: 2.64 g/mL
Atomic Number: 38
Atomic Mass: 67.62 amu
State at 20°C: solid
Isotopes: 86Sr 87Sr 90Sr
Electron Configuration: 5s²
BARIUM
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DISCOVERED IN 1808 BY SIR HUMPHRY DAVY
RECEIVED ITS NAME FROM THE GREEK WORK ‘BARYS’ MEANING
•
HEAVY
BARIUM IS A SOFT, SILVERY METAL THAT RAPIDLY TARNISHES IN
AIR AND REACTS WITH WATER
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USED IN DRILLING FLUIDS FOR OIL AND GAS WELLS. IT IS ALSO
USED IN PAINT AND IN GLASSMAKING
Group: 2
Melting Point: 727°C
Period: 6
Boiling Point: 1845°C
Block: s
Density: 3.62 g/mL
Atomic number: 56
Atomic mass: 137.327 amu
State at 20°C: solid
Isotopes: 138Ba
Electron Configuration: 6s²
RADIUM
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Discovered by Pierre and Marie Curie in 1898
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The name comes from the Latin word ‘radius’ meaning ray
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A soft, shiny and silvery radioactive metal
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Has few uses because it is so radioactive
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Sometimes used to treat prostate cancer that has spread to the
bones
Can be used in luminous paints, clocks and watch dials
Group: 2
Melting Point: 696°C
Period: 7
Boiling Point: 1500°C
Block: s
Density: 5 g/mL
Atomic number: 88
Atomic Mass: 226 amu
State at 20°C: solid
Isotopes: 226Ra
Electron Configuration: 7s²
FUN FACTS!
Forms basic solutions! (pH >7)
 2 electrons in outer shell! (forms positive ions)
 Radium is radioactive and used to be used in
glow-in-the-dark paint
 Calcium is found in bones!
 Magnesium is found in chlorophyll!
 All Alkaline Earth Metals occur naturally!
 Oxidation Number: +2
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