Question

What is the difference between alkali metals and alkali earth metals?

Answer 1

Alkali metals	Alkali earth metals
All the group 1 elements are alkali metals and they are soft in nature.	All the group second elements are alkali earth metals and they are hard in nature.
They have low melting points.	The melting point of alkali earth metals are higher compared with alkali metals.
The outermost shell will contain 1 electron in every alkali metal.	The outermost shell will contain 2 electrons in it.
The alkali metal carbonates do not decompose further except ${\mathrm{Li}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3$.	The alkali earth metal carbonates decomposes to form oxides under high temperature conditions.
The metal carbonates exist in the solid form at room temperature	The alkali earth metal carbonates exist in solution only.
The metal nitrates will give respective nitrates and Oxygen as their major products.	The alkali earth metal nitrates will form Nitrogen dioxide$\left({\mathrm{NO}}_2\right)$, respective oxide and Oxygen
The hydroxides of alkali metals are strongly basic in nature.	The Hydroxides of alkali earth metals are less in basic in nature.
Example of alkali metals are : Lithium$\left(\mathrm{Li}\right)$, Sodium$\left(\mathrm{Na}\right)$, Potassium$\left(\mathrm{K}\right)$, Rubidium$\left(\mathrm{Rb}\right)$, Cesium$\left(\mathrm{Cs}\right)$.	Example of alkali earth metals are : Beryllium$\left(\mathrm{Be}\right)$, Magnesium$\left(\mathrm{Mg}\right)$, Calcium$\left(\mathrm{Ca}\right)$, Strontium$\left(\mathrm{Sr}\right)$, Barium$\left(\mathrm{Ba}\right)$, Radium$\left(\mathrm{Ra}\right)$