Alkaline Earth Metals

The alkaline earth metals are a reactive group of metals, though they are much less reactive than the alkali metals. They all have two valence electrons. They continually get more reactive as you down the periodic table. They all react with water, although not as violently to produce hydrogen and the corresponding hydroxide. They all have the +2 oxidation state which means that they can form up to two bonds by losing their valence electrons. The alkaline earth metals form a variety of bases with important uses. Calcium carbonate, for example, is also known as limestone or chalk.

There are 6 alkaline earth metals:

Beryllium-electron configuration: [He]2s2-Van der Waals radius: 153 pm

Magnesium -electron configuration: [Ne]3s2-Van der Waals radius: 173 pm

Calcium -electron configuration: [Ar]4s2-Van der Waals radius: 231 pm

Strontium-electron configuration: [Kr]5s2-Van der Waals radius: 255 pm

Barium -electron configuration: [Xe]6s2-Van der Waals radius: 268 pm

Radium -electron configuration: [Rn]7s2-Van der Waals radius: 283 pm