ALKALINE EARTH METALSGroup 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.

BERYLLIUM 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: 2

MAGNESIUM 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 Discovered in 1808 by Humphry Davy Name derived form the Latin, ‘calx,’ meaning lime A silvery-white, soft metal that tarnishes rapidly in air and

reacts with water Essential to all living things, found in bones and teeth 5th most abundant metal in Earth’s crust Not found uncombined in nature 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 Discovered in 1790 by Adair Crawford Named after Strontain, a small town in Scotland A soft, silvery metal that burns in air and reacts with water Found in celestite and strontianite 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

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

• 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• USED IN DRILLING FLUIDS FOR OIL AND GAS WELLS. IT IS

ALSO USED IN PAINT AND IN GLASSMAKING

RADIUM Discovered by Pierre and Marie Curie in 1898 The name comes from the Latin word ‘radius’ meaning ray A soft, shiny and silvery radioactive metal Has few uses because it is so radioactive 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