Reactivity and Properties of Alkaline Earth Metals

This lesson covers the alkaline earth metals in group two of the periodic table, focusing on magnesium and calcium. It explains their properties, reactivity trends, and how they react with oxygen and water. Magnesium reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide and with steam to produce hydrogen gas. Calcium reacts with oxygen to form calcium oxide and with cold water to produce calcium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. The lesson highlights the increasing reactivity and decreasing melting points of these metals as you move down the group.

Which group in the periodic table do alkaline earth metals belong to?

• Group 4

• Group 2

• Group 1

• Group 3

What is a common property of alkaline earth metals regarding their valence electrons?

• They have four valence electrons

• They have three valence electrons

• They have two valence electrons

• They have one valence electron

What is the appearance of magnesium before it reacts with oxygen?

• Dull and gray

• Shiny and silver

• Rusty and brown

• Black and matte

What is the product formed when magnesium reacts with oxygen?

• Magnesium chloride

• Magnesium oxide

• Magnesium sulfate

• Magnesium carbonate

How does calcium compare to magnesium in terms of hardness?

• Calcium is harder

• Calcium is softer

• Calcium is brittle

• Both are equally hard

What color flame does calcium produce when it burns?

• Red

• Green

• Blue

• Yellow

What is the product when calcium oxide reacts with water?

• Calcium sulfate

• Calcium carbonate

• Calcium hydroxide

• Calcium nitrate

Which gas is produced when calcium reacts with water?

• Nitrogen

• Oxygen

• Hydrogen

• Carbon dioxide

How does the reactivity of alkaline earth metals change as you move down the group?

• Reactivity remains the same

• Reactivity increases

• Reactivity fluctuates

• Reactivity decreases

Which alkaline earth metal reacts only with steam and not with cold water?

• Calcium

• Strontium

• Beryllium

• Magnesium