Question

Choose the correct alternative:
Alkaline earth metals have valency 2. This means that their position in the modern periodic table is in .................... .

• A. Group 2
• B. Group 16
• C. Period 2
• D. d-block

Hint:

The alkaline earth metals are important in the production of materials like cement, glass, and in the development of alloys. Their ionic nature makes them effective in forming a variety of salts and compounds.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Alkaline earth metals are a group of elements located in Group 2 of the periodic table. The elements in this group include beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra). These metals share several key characteristics:
They have two electrons in their outermost electron shell, which gives them a valency of 2.
These elements tend to lose their two valence electrons to form cations with a +2 charge when they react, which is a characteristic feature of metals.
Their reactivity increases as you move down the group, with radium being the most reactive, and beryllium being the least reactive.
They form ionic compounds, where they combine with nonmetals to form salts, like calcium chloride (CaCl$_2$) or magnesium oxide (MgO).
Since they all have two valence electrons, they are classified as Group 2 elements in the periodic table. These metals are important in various chemical reactions, especially in the formation of basic oxides and hydroxides, and they play crucial roles in biology and industry.