Group 2 on the periodic table of elements, with valence electron configurations of n s 2 . The six alkaline earth metals, all of which are highly reactive chemically, are beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium.
The elements in Group 1 of the periodic table of elements, with the exception of hydrogen. The alkali metals all have one valence electron in thes1 orbital, and are highly reactive.
The positive ion that results when an atom loses one or more electrons. All of the alkaline earth metals tend to form 2+ cations (pronounced KAT-ieunz).
The use of an electric current to cause a chemical reaction.
An atom or group of atoms that has lost or gained one or more electrons, and thus has a net electric charge.
Atoms that have an equal number of protons, and hence are of the same element, but differ in their number of neutrons. This results in a difference ofmass. Isotopes may be either stable or unstable—that is, radioactive. Such is the case with the isotopes of radium, a radioactive member of the alkaline earth metals family.
A pattern of probabilities regarding the position of an electron for anatom in a particular energy state. The six alkaline earth metals all have valence electrons in an s 2 orbital, which describes a more or less spherical shape.
Rows of the periodic table of elements. These represent successive principal energy levels in the atoms of the elements involved.
A value indicating the distance that an electron may move away from the nucleus of anatom. This is designated by a whole-number integer, beginning with 1 and moving upward. The higher the principal energy level, the greater the energy in the atom, and the more complex the pattern of orbitals.
A term describing a phenomenon whereby certain materials are subject to a form of decay brought about by the emission of high-energy particles. "Decay" in this sense does not mean "rot"; instead, radioactive isotopes continue changing into other isotopes until they become stable.
The tendency for bonds between atoms or molecules to be made or broken in such a way that materials aretransformed.
Generally speaking, a compound that brings together a metal and a nonmetal. More specifically, salts (along with water) are the product of a reaction between an acid and a base.
A group of electrons within the same principal energy level.
A region within the principal energy level occupied by electrons in anatom. Whatever the number n of the principal energy level, there are n sublevels. At each principal energy level, the first sublevel to be filled is the one corresponding to the s orbital pattern—where the alkaline earth metals all have their valence electrons.
Electrons that occupy the highest energy levels in anatom, and which are involved in chemical bonding.
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