Alkali Metal (alkaline-earth metals)

Elements in the second column (from the left) of the periodic table all fall into this series. These elements are in general white, differing by shades of colour or casts; they are malleable, extrudable and machinable. These elements may be made into rods, wire or plate. Also, these elements are less reactive than the alkali metals and have higher melting points and boiling points.

The alkaline earth metals are silvery coloured, soft, low-density metals, which react readily with halogens to form ionic salts, and with water, though not as rapidly as the alkali metals, to form strongly alkaline (basic) hydroxides. For example, where sodium and potassium react with water at room temperature, magnesium reacts only with steam and calcium with hot water.

All the alkaline earth metals have two electrons in their outermost shell, so the energetically preferred state of achieving a filled electron shell is to lose two electrons to form doubly charged positive ions.