Table of Contents
Are alkaline earth metals the hardest?
Group 2A — The Alkaline Earth Metals. Group 2A (or IIA) of the periodic table are the alkaline earth metals: beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra). They are harder and less reactive than the alkali metals of Group 1A.
Which metals are softer alkali metals or alkaline earth metals?
The Group 2 alkaline earth metals include Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Barium, Strontium and Radium and are soft, silver metals that are less metallic in character than the Group 1 Alkali Metals.
Are alkaline earth metals soft or hard?
Elements in this group are called alkaline Earth metals. These metals are silver or gray in color. They are relatively soft and low in density, although not as soft and lightweight as alkali metals.
Are alkaline earth metals less dense than alkali metals?
The alkaline earth metals are denser and harder than the corresponding alkali metals. The atoms of alkaline earth elements have smaller size and stronger intermetallic bonds, as compared to alkali metals.
How do alkali and alkaline earth metals compare in reactivity?
1. The alkali metals all have a single s electron in their outermost shell. In contrast, the alkaline earth metals have a completed s subshell in their outermost shell. In general, the alkali metals react faster and are more reactive than the corresponding alkaline earth metals in the same period.
Why are alkaline earth metals soft?
Alkali metals are soft mainly because of one primary reason – they have only one single electron in their valence shell and the metallic bonding is weak between the atoms. We can say that these metals have weak binding energy in the crystal lattice. Hence, alkali metals are soft.
Are alkaline earth metals more dense than alkali metals?
The s-Block Elements. The alkaline earth metals are denser and harder than the corresponding alkali metals. Therefore, they are more closely packed in their crystal lattices which account for high density and hardness of these elements.
Why are alkali metals soft?
Due to the presence of this single electron in their valence shell, alkali metals are soft in nature. The metallic bonding between the atoms in alkali metals are weak. So, they have weak binding energy in their lattice. Hence, alkali metals are found very soft.
Why alkali metals are soft and very reactive?
Because they have just one valence electron, group 1 elements are very reactive. Alkali metals are all solids at room temperature. They are relatively soft and low in density. From the top to the bottom of group 1, the elements have heavier, more reactive atoms.