Subclassifications of Elements

We mentioned in Section 1.3 that chemists simplify the task of studying the enormous quantity of different material substances that exist by placing them into classifications and subclassifications. Let us now take another look at the periodic table and see what subclassifications chemists have used for the elements. 

FIGURE 3.1 An outline of the periodic table showing the locations of the metals (white squares), the nonmetals (light gray squares), and metalloids (dark gray squares). The stair-step dividing line referred to in the text is also shown. 

The metals in Group IIA (or Group 2) are known as the alkaline earth metals. These include beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium. 

FIGURE 3.2 An outline of the periodic table showing the locations of the representative elements, the transition elements, and the inner transition 

---