What are alkali metals and alkaline earth metals? How to identify them in the periodic table?
Dear Student
Alkali metals are the elements of group I of the periodic table. These include Lithium (Li), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Rubidium (Rb), Caesium (Cs) and Francium (Fr). All these elements are metals and contain one electron in their valence shell. These are highly electropositive and readily lose an electron. The metals are known for their high reactivity and hence do not occur in nature in free state, but in combined state in the form of halides, oxides, nitrates etc. The atomic radii of alkali metals are the largest in their respective periods.
Alkaline Earth metals are the elements of group II of the periodic table. These include Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr) and Barium (Ba) . All these elements are metals and contain two electrons in their valence shell.
The alkaline Earth metals too are highly electropositive and quite reactive. However, unlike alkali metals, they form divalent ions by losing two electrons.
In periodic table, Group 1 elements are alkali metals, while Group 2 elements are alkaline earth metals.
Regards
Dear Student
Alkali metals are the elements of group I of the periodic table. These include Lithium (Li), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Rubidium (Rb), Caesium (Cs) and Francium (Fr). All these elements are metals and contain one electron in their valence shell. These are highly electropositive and readily lose an electron. The metals are known for their high reactivity and hence do not occur in nature in free state, but in combined state in the form of halides, oxides, nitrates etc. The atomic radii of alkali metals are the largest in their respective periods.
Alkaline Earth metals are the elements of group II of the periodic table. These include Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr) and Barium (Ba) . All these elements are metals and contain two electrons in their valence shell.
The alkaline Earth metals too are highly electropositive and quite reactive. However, unlike alkali metals, they form divalent ions by losing two electrons.
In periodic table, Group 1 elements are alkali metals, while Group 2 elements are alkaline earth metals.
Regards
