What Does alkaline earths Mean
The adjective alkaline earth is used in the field of chemistry to describe a group of metals that stand out for being strongly basic . The alkaline earth elements are radium , barium , strontium , calcium , magnesium, and beryllium .
The name is linked to the fact that the oxides of these metals were referred to as "earths" . Alkalinity, meanwhile, is associated with the basic properties of these oxides.
Compared to alkali metals, alkaline earths have lower reactivity and higher hardness and density. They are good conductors of electricity that can form ionic compounds and have a pair of electrons in their outer shell (their valence is +2 ).
Alkaline earths are found in group 2 of the periodic table of elements. That is why they are between group 1 (which brings together the alkaline ones) and group 3 .
Off-white or silvery in color, the alkaline earth metals are almost stable. Returning to the comparison with the alkaline ones , these elements of group 2 of the periodic table melt at a higher temperature.
It is estimated that alkaline earths make up about 4% of the crust of planet Earth . In any case, they cannot be found free. Also, while magnesium and calcium are fairly common, other alkaline earths are rarer, such as radium. In this way, it is difficult to establish generalizations when referring to this class of elements, since in many cases their properties and characteristics are dissimilar.
Obtaining alkaline earths can be achieved by reducing their oxides. Another option is to resort to the electrolysis of its already melted halides.