alkaline-earth metal
Definition
Noun: A member of a specific group of chemical elements in the periodic table. These elements are all shiny, silvery-white, and are found in the second group (Group II). They are called "alkaline-earth" because their oxides ("earths") form alkaline (basic) solutions when mixed with water. They are all bivalent, meaning they typically form ions with a +2 charge.
Usage
The term is used in chemistry to classify and discuss these specific metallic elements. It is a scientific term. - Beryllium is the lightest alkaline-earth metal. - Calcium, an alkaline-earth metal, is essential for strong bones. - The reactivity of the alkaline-earth metals increases down the group.
Advanced Usage
- Collective Plural: The term is often used in the plural to refer to the group as a whole.
- The alkaline-earth metals are less reactive than the alkali metals.
- Chemical Context: The term is primarily used when discussing periodic trends, chemical reactions, or elemental properties.
- The experiment demonstrated the characteristic flame test colors of the alkaline-earth metals.
Variants and Related Words
- Alkaline Earth Metal: A common alternative spelling with a space.
- Group 2 element: A modern IUPAC designation that is largely synonymous, though it sometimes includes radium with less emphasis.
- Earth metal: An older, less specific term.
Synonyms
- Group II metal (historical classification)
- Group 2 element (modern classification)
Related Phrases/Compounds
- Alkaline earth: The oxide of one of these metals.
- Quicklime is calcium oxide, an alkaline earth.
Noun
-
any of the bivalent metals of group II of the periodic table (calcium or strontium or barium or magnesium or beryllium)
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