Point-wise summary for each element in the second group of the periodic table, the alkaline earth metals:
Beryllium (Be) - Atomic Number: 4
- A hard, grayish-white metal with high melting and boiling points.
- Lightweight and strong, used in aerospace and defence industries.
- Toxic in its powdered form, causing lung damage if inhaled.
- Used as an alloying agent in various materials, such as copper alloys and steel.
- Beryllium compounds are used in fluorescent lighting, X-ray tubes, and nuclear reactors.
Magnesium (Mg) - Atomic Number: 12
- A lightweight, silvery metal with excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
- Essential for biological processes in plants and animals.
- Used in alloying with aluminium to improve its strength and corrosion resistance.
- Widely used in the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries.
- Magnesium compounds are used in antacids, laxatives, and in the production of refractory bricks.
Calcium (Ca) - Atomic Number: 20
- A soft, silvery-white metal that is essential for life.
- Abundant in nature, found in bones, shells, and teeth of living organisms.
- Used in the production of steel, cement, and mortar.
- Calcium carbonate is used in antacids and dietary supplements.
- Calcium is crucial for muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and blood clotting.
Strontium (Sr) - Atomic Number: 38
- A soft, silvery metal that reacts with water and air.
- Used in the production of fireworks and flares due to its bright red flame color.
- Strontium compounds are used in some medical imaging procedures.
- Radioactive strontium-90 is a byproduct of nuclear reactions and poses health risks if released into the environment.
Barium (Ba) - Atomic Number: 56
- A soft, silvery metal that rapidly oxidizes in air.
- Used in the production of various alloys and as a getter in vacuum tubes.
- Barium sulfate is used as a contrast medium in X-ray imaging.
- Barium compounds are used in the manufacturing of ceramics, glass, and fireworks.
- Certain barium compounds are poisonous and must be handled with care.
Radium (Ra) - Atomic Number: 88
- A highly radioactive and extremely rare element.
- Discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie, known for its luminescent properties.
- Radium glows in the dark due to its radioactivity but poses health risks.
- Once used in self-luminous paint for watch dials and aircraft instrument panels.
- Radium-226 is an alpha particle emitter and decays to radon, a radioactive gas.
The alkaline earth metals are reactive but less so than the alkali metals. They have two valence electrons and are essential elements for life and industrial applications. Some of these elements, particularly radium, are highly radioactive and require careful handling due to their hazardous nature.
