ALKALINE EARTHS Meaning and
Definition
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The term "alkaline earths" refers to a group of chemical elements found in Group 2 of the periodic table. This group is comprised of six metallic elements, namely beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra). These elements share several common properties, which include their low density, metallic nature, relatively high melting points, and their tendency to form alkaline solutions when reacting with water.
The alkaline earths are named so due to their oxides and hydroxides being alkaline in nature. These elements have two valence electrons in their outermost energy level, contributing to their similarities in chemical behavior. Additionally, they have relatively low electronegativity values, making them more likely to lose or share electrons when bonding with other elements.
Alkaline earths are abundantly found in the Earth's crust and are essential components of various minerals, such as limestone, gypsum, and dolomite. These elements are also vital for living organisms, with calcium being a significant component of bones and teeth, while magnesium is involved in numerous cellular functions.
From an industrial perspective, alkaline earth metals find various applications. For example, beryllium is used in aerospace materials due to its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. Magnesium is often alloyed with other metals to improve their properties, while barium compounds are utilized in the production of X-ray contrast agents. Overall, the alkaline earths exhibit a diverse range of properties and applications, contributing significantly to various fields of science, industry, and everyday life.
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The hydroxides of barium, calcium, magnesium, and strontium.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ALKALINE EARTHS
- zlkaline earths
- slkaline earths
- wlkaline earths
- qlkaline earths
- akkaline earths
- apkaline earths
- aokaline earths
- aljaline earths
- almaline earths
- allaline earths
- aloaline earths
- alialine earths
- alkzline earths
- alksline earths
- alkwline earths
- alkqline earths
- alkakine earths
- alkapine earths
- alkaoine earths
- alkalune earths
Etymology of ALKALINE EARTHS
The term "alkaline earths" originates from the historical understanding of these elements as being alkaline and earth-like. The word "alkaline" stems from the Arabic word "qali", which means "ashes of the saltwort plant". In ancient times, alkalis were obtained by extracting ashes from certain plants, including saltwort. The term "earth" was used to describe substances that were solid and often found in the earth, hence the name "earth-like".
The concept of alkalinity was later refined to denote the ability of a substance to neutralize acid, and earths referred to the oxides of elements that behaved similarly. The alkaline earth metals, namely beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium, were observed to possess similar characteristics and were grouped together based on their chemical behaviors.
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