Group 2: Alkaline earth metals

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The family of alkaline earth metals illustrates very convincingly the similarities between elements in the same group of the Periodic Table. These elements, however, are not identical and so explaining the differences and trends in properties is important too.

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Recently Asked Questions

• I would like to know how to extract calcium carbonate from limestone. What kind of reaction is involved? 091008
• I have been given the question "a student predicted that the rate of hydrochloric acid and any metal in Group 2 would be directly proportional to the number of shells occupied by the electrons in an atom of the metal...... Your method should involve measurements of the gas produced in the reaction." I understand the relevant chemical knowledge for Group 2, but I am confused on the set up of the equipment and how to do the calculations as all I know is the M^r. If you could just start me off on how to go about equations and the right experiment that I need to be doing, I should be able to get going. 210208
• 1. By comparing the ease of decomposition of Li₂O₃ with K₃CO₃ and MgCO₃ with BaCO₃, describe the trend in thermal stability of the carbonates in descending the Group? 2.Which of the Group I carbonates resembled those of Group II in thermal decomposition? 3. Could you explain to me the trends of the thermal stability across a Period and down a Group? 260308

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updated: 20 September 2003