Reacting Less Violently The Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals

Reacting Less Violently The Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals 

The elements of Group 2 are similar to the Group 1 elements but are less reactive. They are still difficult to find free in nature because they are reactive enough to form bonds with many elements. They have two outer electrons that are readily donated to form stable compounds. The oxides of Group 2 elements form mildly alkaline solutions so they are referred to as the alkaline earth metals. 

The Group 2 elements are silvery metals that conduct heat and electricity. They have low first and second ionization energies and form M cations (ions with a +2 charge). 

The term earth is a tribute to the history of Group 2 metals The oxides of Group 2 metals were historically called ea/T/ s because they wouldn t dissolve in water or burn in fire. Remember, a metal s a good conductor of heat and electricity, so if you were to isolate all the metal ions 

The alkaline earth metals are not as soluble as the alkali metals because of higher lattice energies associated with the cation. For example, potassium sulfate (K2SO,) is soluble in water, but calcium sulfate (CaSO,) is not. 

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