The Alkaline Earth MetalsThe Alkaline Earth Metals

By Kevon Brown, Pete Mattocia and Wyatt MichelBy Kevon Brown, Pete Mattocia and Wyatt Michel

Barium-BaBarium-Ba

Has an atomic number of 56Has an atomic number of 56 It’s a soft slivery metallic alkaline earth metalIt’s a soft slivery metallic alkaline earth metal It is never found in nature at its purest form due to the radioactivity in It is never found in nature at its purest form due to the radioactivity in

the air.the air. Its oxide is historically known as baryta.Its oxide is historically known as baryta. But it reacts with water and carbon dioxide is not found as a metal.But it reacts with water and carbon dioxide is not found as a metal. The most common naturally occurring minerals are the very insoluble The most common naturally occurring minerals are the very insoluble

barium sulfate, and barium carbonate.barium sulfate, and barium carbonate. Boiling point is 3447 degrees FahrenheitBoiling point is 3447 degrees Fahrenheit It is used in enemas, and barium sulfate is used to coat the inner lining It is used in enemas, and barium sulfate is used to coat the inner lining

of intestines to allow a doctor examine a patients digestive system. of intestines to allow a doctor examine a patients digestive system.

Beryllium-BeBeryllium-Be The atomic number is 4The atomic number is 4 It’s a steel gray strong lightweight yet brittle alkaline earth metal.It’s a steel gray strong lightweight yet brittle alkaline earth metal. It is primarily used as a hardening agent in alloys.It is primarily used as a hardening agent in alloys. Commercially use of beryllium metal presents technical challenges due Commercially use of beryllium metal presents technical challenges due

to the toxicity of beryllium containing dusts.to the toxicity of beryllium containing dusts. It is a relatively rare element in both the earth and the universe It is a relatively rare element in both the earth and the universe

because it is not formed in conventional stellar nucleosynthesis.because it is not formed in conventional stellar nucleosynthesis. It is known to be necessary for either plant and animal life. It is known to be necessary for either plant and animal life. The boiling point is 4476 degrees FahrenheitThe boiling point is 4476 degrees Fahrenheit It is found in emeralds and aquamarines, and alloys of it are used for It is found in emeralds and aquamarines, and alloys of it are used for

special electrical connections.special electrical connections.

Calcium-CaCalcium-Ca

The atomic number is 20The atomic number is 20 The atomic mass is 40.078The atomic mass is 40.078 Calcium is a soft grey alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth most Calcium is a soft grey alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth most

abundant earth element by mass and the earths crust.abundant earth element by mass and the earths crust. It is also the fifth most dissolved ion in seawater by both malarity and It is also the fifth most dissolved ion in seawater by both malarity and

mass.mass. It is essential for living organisms, particularly in cell physiology.It is essential for living organisms, particularly in cell physiology. Calcium is the most abundant metal by mass in many animals.Calcium is the most abundant metal by mass in many animals. Boiling point is 2703 degrees FahrenheitBoiling point is 2703 degrees Fahrenheit It is used as building materials and has been used since ancient times. It is used as building materials and has been used since ancient times.

In various compounds it is also used as bleach.In various compounds it is also used as bleach.

Magnesium-MgMagnesium-Mg

The atomic number is 12.The atomic number is 12. The atomic mass is 24.3050The atomic mass is 24.3050 It is the 9It is the 9thth most abundant element in the universe by mass. most abundant element in the universe by mass. It constitutes about 2% of the earths crust by mass, and is the third It constitutes about 2% of the earths crust by mass, and is the third

most abundant element dissolved in seawater.most abundant element dissolved in seawater. They are essential to all living cells, it is the 11They are essential to all living cells, it is the 11 thth most abundant most abundant

element by mass in the human body.element by mass in the human body. The boiling point is 1994 degrees FahrenheitThe boiling point is 1994 degrees Fahrenheit It is applied in making fireworks, signal flares, and tracer bullets.It is applied in making fireworks, signal flares, and tracer bullets.

Radium-RaRadium-Ra

Atomic number is 88Atomic number is 88 Its appearance is almost pure white but it oxidizes when it hits air and Its appearance is almost pure white but it oxidizes when it hits air and

turns blackturns black Its found in trace amounts or uranium ore.Its found in trace amounts or uranium ore. Extremely radioactiveExtremely radioactive Its most stable isotope has half life of 1602 years and it decays into Its most stable isotope has half life of 1602 years and it decays into

radon gasradon gas The boiling point is 3159 degrees FahrenheitThe boiling point is 3159 degrees Fahrenheit At one point it was used for luminous paint and watch dials, then it was At one point it was used for luminous paint and watch dials, then it was

phased out of use.phased out of use.

Strontium-SrStrontium-Sr

The atomic number is 38The atomic number is 38 It is a soft-silver or yellow metallic element that is highly reactive It is a soft-silver or yellow metallic element that is highly reactive

chemically.chemically. The metal turns yellow when it is exposed to air, it occurs naturally in The metal turns yellow when it is exposed to air, it occurs naturally in

the minerals Celestine and Strontianite.the minerals Celestine and Strontianite. It is present in radioactive fallout and has a half life of 28.90 years.It is present in radioactive fallout and has a half life of 28.90 years. It is softer then calcium and even more reactive in water.It is softer then calcium and even more reactive in water. It burns in air to produce strontium oxide and Strontium nitrate.It burns in air to produce strontium oxide and Strontium nitrate. The boiling point is 2520 degrees FahrenheitThe boiling point is 2520 degrees Fahrenheit Just like magnesium it is applied in making fireworks, signal flares, and Just like magnesium it is applied in making fireworks, signal flares, and

tracer bullets.tracer bullets.

OverallOverall

Alkaline earth metals are used in a lot of Alkaline earth metals are used in a lot of various ways, from creating concrete and various ways, from creating concrete and bricks to build buildings, to creating signal bricks to build buildings, to creating signal flares and military weapons like tracer flares and military weapons like tracer bullets. Some of them like Barium and bullets. Some of them like Barium and Beryllium have been used for medicine and Beryllium have been used for medicine and jewelry. Who knows where we would be jewelry. Who knows where we would be without the studies and discoveries of without the studies and discoveries of Alkaline earth metals. Alkaline earth metals.

Work CitedWork Cited

http://www.wikipedia.org/http://www.wikipedia.org/ http://www.ebooks.com/http://www.ebooks.com/ http://www.answers.com/http://www.answers.com/ http://www.google.com/http://www.google.com/