Alkaline Earth Metals

Alkaline earth metals
Group 2
BY: Samuel Almario, Samuel Stuewe
Introduction to alkaline
earth metals
• Alkaline earth metals are a group of metallic elements

in the periodic table. They include beryllium,
magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium.
These metals are highly reactive and tend to lose two
electrons to form +2 ions. They have various
applications in different fields, including medicine,
construction, and manufacturing.
• Group 2: Group 2 of the periodic table is the alkaline
earth metals. They include beryllium, magnesium,
calcium, strontium, barium, and radium. These metals
are shiny, reactive, and have two valence electrons.
Radium is radioactive.
Chemical proprieties
Alkaline earth metals are shiny, reactive In Group 2 of the periodic table (alkaline
metals that form +2 cations. They are earth metals), the atomic radius increases,
harder and less reactive than alkali metals while the ionization energy and electron
and typically have an oxidation state of affinity generally decrease as you move
+2. Radium, the heaviest element in the down the group.
group, is highly radioactive.
Each element
1. Beryllium (Be):
1. Physical Properties: Beryllium is a lightweight, brittle, and steel-gray metal.
2. Common Compounds: Beryllium forms compounds such as beryllium oxide (BeO) and beryllium chloride (BeCl2).
3. Uses: Beryllium is used in various industries, including aerospace, electronics, and nuclear reactors, due to its high strength-to-
weight ratio and thermal conductivity.
2. Magnesium (Mg):
1. Physical Properties: Magnesium is a silver-white metal with a low density and high strength-to-weight ratio.
2. Common Compounds: Magnesium forms compounds such as magnesium oxide (MgO) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2).
3. Uses: Magnesium is widely used in alloys, as well as in the production of fireworks, flares, and lightweight materials.
3. Calcium (Ca):
1. Physical Properties: Calcium is a soft, silvery-white metal.
2. Common Compounds: Calcium forms compounds such as calcium oxide (CaO) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
3. Uses: Calcium is essential for the formation and maintenance of bones and teeth. It is also used in construction, agriculture, and
medicine.
4. Strontium (Sr):
1. Physical Properties: Strontium is a soft, silvery-white metal.
2. Common Compounds: Strontium forms compounds such as strontium oxide (SrO) and strontium chloride (SrCl2).
3. Uses: Strontium compounds are used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, and fireworks due to their vibrant red color when
burned.
5. Barium (Ba):
1. Physical Properties: Barium is a soft, silvery-white metal.
2. Common Compounds: Barium forms compounds such as barium oxide (BaO) and barium sulfate (BaSO4).
3. Uses: Barium is primarily used in the production of drilling fluids for oil and gas wells. It is also used in the manufacturing of
glass, ceramics, and fireworks.
6. Radium (Ra):
1. Physical Properties: Radium is a highly radioactive metal.
2. Common Compounds: Due to its radioactivity, the chemistry of radium is not well-established.
3. Uses: Radium has historically been used in medical treatments, but its use is now highly regulated due to its radioactive nature
Chemical reactions
1. **Reaction with Oxygen:** Alkaline earth metals react with oxygen to form oxides. For example, magnesium burns in oxygen to form magnesium oxide:
\[ 2Mg + O_2 \rightarrow 2MgO \]
2. **Reaction with Water:** Beryllium and magnesium do not react with water. However, calcium, strontium, and barium react with water to form hydroxides and hydrogen gas:
\[ Ca + 2H_2O \rightarrow Ca(OH)_2 + H_2 \]
3. **Reaction with Acids:** Alkaline earth metals react with acids to produce salts and hydrogen gas. For example, magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride and hydrogen
gas:
\[ Mg + 2HCl \rightarrow MgCl_2 + H_2 \]
4. **Reaction with Halogens:** Alkaline earth metals react with halogens like chlorine to form metal halides. For example, magnesium reacts with chlorine to form magnesium chloride:
\[ Mg + Cl_2 \rightarrow MgCl_2 \]
5. **Reaction with Nitrogen:** Alkaline earth metals can react with nitrogen to form nitrides. For example, magnesium reacts with nitrogen to form magnesium nitride:
\[ 3Mg + N_2 \rightarrow Mg_3N_2 \]

Environmental Impact
1. Mining and Extraction: The mining and extraction of earth alkaline metals can
lead to habitat destruction, soil erosion, and water pollution. Chemicals used in the
extraction process can contaminate waterways and harm aquatic life.
2. Air Pollution: Burning fuels containing magnesium and calcium can release
oxides of these metals into the air, contributing to air pollution and respiratory
issues.
3. Water Pollution: Disposal of waste products from industries that use earth
alkaline metals can contaminate water sources, affecting both aquatic ecosystems
and human health.
4. Soil Contamination: Improper disposal of industrial waste containing these
metals can lead to soil contamination, reducing soil fertility and affecting plant
growth.
• Mitigation Strategies:
1. Recycling: Recycling earth alkaline metals from products like batteries and
industrial waste can reduce the need for new extraction, lowering environmental
impact.
2. Efficient Extraction: Developing more efficient extraction methods can reduce
the environmental footprint of mining and processing these metals.
3. Waste Management: Proper management of waste products containing earth
alkaline metals is crucial to prevent pollution. This includes safe disposal and
treatment of industrial waste.
4. Alternative Materials: Researching and using alternative materials that are less
harmful to the environment can help reduce reliance on earth alkaline metals.
5. Regulations and Policies: Implementing strict regulations and policies regarding
the extraction, use, and disposal of earth alkaline metals can help mitigate their
environmental impact.
Fun Facts and discoveries.
Alkaline metals are highly reactive, especially with water. When they react with water, they produce hydrogen gas and
form alkaline solutions.
They are soft and can be easily cut with a knife.
They have low melting and boiling points compared to other metals.
Alkaline metals are good conductors of electricity.
Discovery of rubidium and cesium: Rubidium and cesium were discovered in 1861 by German chemists Robert Bunsen
and Gustav Kirchhoff through the use of flame spectroscopy, a method they developed. This method allowed them to
identify these elements based on the unique colors they produced when burned in a flame.
Conclusion
In conclusion, alkaline metals play a crucial role in various aspects of life on Earth. From
their essential roles in biological processes to their use in industry and agriculture, these
elements have had a profound impact on human civilization.
In our opinion we think that all the elements are important to humans, and that is
important to use it correctly to avoid accidents.
References.
• Information: Principal chatGPT and Wikipedia.

• Images: Recomendations of PPT.

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Alkaline earth metals

• Alkaline earth metals are a group of metallic elements

\[ 2Mg + O_2 \rightarrow 2MgO \]

\[ Ca + 2H_2O \rightarrow Ca(OH)_2 + H_2 \]

\[ Mg + 2HCl \rightarrow MgCl_2 + H_2 \]

\[ Mg + Cl_2 \rightarrow MgCl_2 \]

\[ 3Mg + N_2 \rightarrow Mg_3N_2 \]

They are soft and can be easily cut with a knife.

Alkaline metals are good conductors of electricity.

• Information: Principal chatGPT and Wikipedia.

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