What are the common properties in the Alkaline Earth Metals (group 2)?

Alkaline earth metals are located in group 2 of the periodic table of elements. The alkali earth metals include beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium and radium. There are certain common properties in these elements. These are listed here:

• All the alkaline earth metals are metals.


• These elements have a fully filled s-shell. 


• These elements readily lose the 2 outermost electrons and form cations.


• The oxidation number of the cations formed by these elements is +2.


• These metals readily react with halogens (group 17 elements) to form halides, such as calcium chloride and magnesium chloride.


• All these elements are silver-white and are soft.


• All the alkaline earth metals occur naturally.


• They have relatively low boiling and melting points.


• All these elements have low electronegativities.


• All the alkaline earth metals have low affinity for electrons.

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