Alkali Earth Metals By Mari, Isabelle, Eli and Mariah

What makes Alkali Metals so unique…We are on the 1st line of periodic table and have one valence electron

They are named Alkali Metals because when they react with H2O they create Alkalies (Strong bases that Neutralize acids)

They are rare in the earth's crust. Francium is so rare it was discovered in 1939

Only 1 electron on the outer shell, therefore they are always ready to give up an electron in Ionic bonding

We are great thermal and electricity conductors and have high ductility

We are the softest metal and are very reactive, sometimes when exposed to water we explode

The personality of Alkali Metals… Very reactive with atmospheric oxygen and water vapor (Friend group). They react with water to produce hydrogen and a solution. Lithium reacts with nitrogen.

Because of their valence electron they tend to form singly charged ions when react with nonmetals.

These compounds have lower melting points and boiling points. (179 Celsius) -(28.5 Celsius)

They are very soft and could be cut with a knife

They also have very low densities. Lithium, sodium and potassium could float on water

What makes Alkaline Earth Metals so unique…

We are the 6 chemical elements on the 2nd line of the periodic table.

We have a high melting and boiling temperature.

and are not found freely in nature.

We have 2 electron in our outer shell that we redily give up and react easily with halogens and water.

We are soft and strong but not as soft as alkali metals.

The personalities of Alkaline-earth Metals…High melting and boiling point ranging from (mp 650 Celsius) (bp 1090 Celsius) to (mp 1,287 C.) (bp 2,471 C.) … Very Hot!

They are strong reducing agents

They react readily with Halogens and water (Friend group). Halogens are found on the 17th line of the periodic table. This is because of their ionic charge.

Bonds Alkali Earth

-Typically ionic, except Beryllium which tends towards covalent bonds

-Heavy metals ( Calcium, strontium and Barium) stray from ionic bonding sometimes because they are bent!

-Low ionization energy

Alkali

-Lose outer electron with glee and form +1 cations

Electron Configuration PatternsAlkali Earth Metals

Grouped together by their similarities in valence electron configuration

- Alkali earth metals all have two outer valence electrons

- They move in a spherical orbit around element

- Some alkali earth elements have different ionization energies

Alkali Metals

-One loosely bound valence electron that is easily lost

-Loses valence to form ions with single positive charges

Ohh La La-Emeralds, the May birthstone are naturally occurring compounds of Beryllium!

-Peridot, the August birthstones are rich in magnesium