A LKALINE E ARTH M ETALS Group 2 By- Nicole Ferruggio, Melanie Kirk, Catherine Norbury, and Michael O’Connor

O RIGIN OF N AME 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.

B ERYLLIUM 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: 2Melting Point: 1287°C Period: 2Boiling Point: 2468°C Block: sDensity: 1.85 g/mL Atomic Number: 4Atomic Mass: amu State at 20°C: SolidIsotopes: 9Be

M AGNESIUM 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: 2Melting Point: 650°C Period: 3Boiling Point: 1090°C Block: sDensity: 1.74 g/mL Atomic Number: 12Atomic Mass: amu State at 20°C: SolidIsotopes: 24Mg Electron Configuration: 3s²

C ALCIUM 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 5 th most abundant metal in Earth’s crust Not found uncombined in nature Used in building stone, plaster and cement Group: 2Melting Point: 842°C Period: 4Boiling Point: 1484°C Block: sDensity: 1.54 g/mL Atomic Number: 20Atomic Mass: amu State at 20°C: SolidIsotopes: 40Ca Electron Configuration: 4s²

S TRONTIUM 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: 2Melting Point: 777°C Period: 5Boiling Point: 1377°C Block: sDensity: 2.64 g/mL Atomic Number: 38Atomic Mass: amu State at 20°C: solidIsotopes: 86Sr 87Sr 90Sr Electron Configuration: 5s²

B ARIUM Group: 2Melting Point: 727°C Period: 6Boiling Point: 1845°C Block: sDensity: 3.62 g/mL Atomic number: 56Atomic mass: amu State at 20°C: solidIsotopes: 138Ba Electron Configuration: 6s² D ISCOVERED IN 1808 BY S IR H UMPHRY D AVY R ECEIVED ITS NAME FROM THE G REEK WORK ‘ BARYS ’ MEANING HEAVY B ARIUM IS A SOFT, SILVERY METAL THAT RAPIDLY TARNISHES IN AIR AND REACTS WITH WATER U SED IN DRILLING FLUIDS FOR OIL AND GAS WELLS. I T IS ALSO USED IN PAINT AND IN GLASSMAKING

R ADIUM 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: 2Melting Point: 696°C Period: 7Boiling Point: 1500°C Block: sDensity: 5 g/mL Atomic number: 88Atomic Mass: 226 amu State at 20°C: solidIsotopes: 226Ra Electron Configuration: 7s²

F UN F ACTS ! 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