Alkaline Earth Metals
Alkaline Earth metals are the elements in group 2. They are the second most active elements, alkali metals as the most active. They have a valence electron of 2, and are used to make fireworks! Alkaline earth metals are not found freely in nature. They lie within the earth's crust but in compounds. The alkaline earth metals are Beryllium(Be), Magnesium(Mg), Calcium(Ca), Strontium(Sr), Barium(Ba), and Radium(Ra).
Alkaline Earth metals are the elements in group 2. They are the second most active elements, alkali metals as the most active. They have a valence electron of 2, and are used to make fireworks! Alkaline earth metals are not found freely in nature. They lie within the earth's crust but in compounds. The alkaline earth metals are Beryllium(Be), Magnesium(Mg), Calcium(Ca), Strontium(Sr), Barium(Ba), and Radium(Ra).
Information about Alkaline Earth Metals
Beryllium(Be) is element #4 and is expensive yet toxic. It is light in weight, so it has been used for making missiles and spacecraft. Beryllium, a part of mineral Beryl, have green and blue color, or as most of the populace knows it as emerald and aquamarine. It has also been used to make golf clubs, gyroscopes, and windows of x-ray tubes. Magnesium(Mg) is element #12. It is a very flammable element, though it is used in bicycles, airplanes, and race cars. It brings heat away from the surface, so it doesn't catch on fire. Magnesium is also used in camp fire starters, photographic ribbon holder (magnesium is the ribbon itself), flash powder, and magnesium movie reels. Calcium(Ca) is element #20 and is unstable in air, so its rare to see it in metallic form. Its ion is important in biochemistry, it mediates the action of nerves and muscles by constantly moving through the cells. Calcium also makes up chalk, hydrogen generators, and in hollow cathode lamps. It is a part of bones and coral. Strontium(Sr) is element #38 and has an isotope that is a component of nuclear fallout. It has absorbs light and slowly releases, giving off a glow for an amount of time. It is used in strontium toothpaste and bone-building supplements. Barium(Ba) is element #56 and is the greek word for heavy. It is used in Barium getters and Barium plated getters for vacuums. Radium(Ra) is element #88 and is radioactive. It was used for parts of a watch or clock to glow in the dark. |
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