THE PERIODIC TABLE

4.2 - The Groups

The alkaline earth metals: Be, Mg, ca, Sr, and Ba.

View the alkaline earth metals.

Physical Properties:	low densities, but higher than densities of the comparable alkali metals
Chemical Properties:	less reactive than the alkali metals all alkaline earth metals have two valence electrons which form ions with a positive (2+) charge
Abundance:	calcium is the fifth most abundance element; about 4% of the earth's crust is Ca or Mg.
Common Compounds:	calcium are found as calcium carbonate, CaCO3 in chalk, limestone, marble, and calcite. magnesium metal is used in flash powder and photographic lightbulbs hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions beryllium and its compounds are toxic barium compounds are used as white pigments

Follow this interesting link to see more pictures of the elements:

The Pictorial Periodic Table from Phoenix College

Section 5.2
The Periodic Table Periods and Groups ..p106

Section 5.3
General Characteristics of the Groups ..p109

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