Element category
Alkaline earth metals
The alkaline earth metals are the group 2 metals, from beryllium to radium. With two electrons in the outer s subshell, they form +2 ions in nearly all of their compounds. They are harder, denser and less reactive than the alkali metals next to them, but still far too reactive to occur uncombined in nature.
At a glance
- Elements
- 6
- Atomic numbers
- 4 to 88
- Block
- s-block
- Periods
- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Phase at STP
- solid (6)
Shared properties
- Two valence electrons, so the +2 oxidation state defines the group's chemistry
- Harder and higher melting than the alkali metals of group 1
- Form basic (alkaline) oxides and hydroxides, which gives the family its name
- Reactivity increases down the group; radium at the bottom is radioactive