alkaline earths

Adjective alkaline earth It is used in the field of chemistry to rate a group of metals that stand out for be strongly basic. The alkaline earth elements are the radio, the barium, the strontium, the calcium, the magnesium and the beryllium.

The denomination is linked to the fact that oxides of these metals were mentioned as "land". Alkalinity, meanwhile, is associated with the basic properties of these oxides.

Compared to alkali metals, alkaline earths have lower reactivity and higher hardness and density. They are good drivers of electricity that can form ionic compounds and that present a pair of electrons in their outer shell (their valence is +2).

Alkaline earths are found in the group 2 of the periodic table Of elements. That is why they are between the group 1 (which brings together the alkalis) and the Group 3.

Off-white or silvery in color, the alkaline earth metals are almost stable. Returning to the comparison with alkaline, these elements of the group 2 of the periodic table melt at a higher temperature.

It is estimated that alkaline earths constitute about 4% of the crust of the planet Land. In any case, they cannot be found free. Also, while magnesium and calcium are fairly common, other alkaline earths are rarer, such as radium. In this way, it is difficult to establish generalizations when referring to this class of elements, since in many cases their properties and characteristics are dissimilar.

Obtaining alkaline earths can be achieved by reduction of its oxides. Another option is to resort to electrolysis of its already melted halides.