alkaaniyhdisteiden

Alkaaniyhdisteiden, known more commonly in English as alkaline earth metals, refers to the elements in Group 2 of the periodic table. These elements include beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra). They are characterized by their relatively low electronegativity and their tendency to lose two electrons to form divalent cations with a +2 charge. This electronic configuration, with a filled s-orbital in the outermost shell, makes them highly reactive.

The alkaline earth metals are generally silvery-white, soft metals, though their hardness increases with atomic number. They are less reactive than alkali metals (Group 1) but more reactive than most other metals. Their reactivity increases down the group, with barium and radium being the most reactive. They readily react with halogens to form ionic salts and with oxygen to form oxides. When heated in air, they burn to form oxides, and many react with water, though the vigor of this reaction increases down the group. Magnesium and calcium are abundant in the Earth's crust and are vital for various biological processes. Calcium is a major component of bones and teeth, while magnesium is essential for enzyme function. Strontium and barium are found in minerals and have some industrial applications. Radium is a radioactive element discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie and has been used in medical treatments.