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The physical and chemical properties of the alkali metals can be readily explained by their having an ns 1 valence electron configuration, which results in weak metallic bonding. Hence, all the alkali metals are soft and have low densities, [5] melting [5] and boiling points, [5] as well as heats of sublimation, vaporisation, and dissociation.
The chemical elements can be broadly divided into metals, metalloids, and nonmetals according to their shared physical and chemical properties.All elemental metals have a shiny appearance (at least when freshly polished); are good conductors of heat and electricity; form alloys with other metallic elements; and have at least one basic oxide.
Key physical and atomic properties of the alkaline earth metals; Alkaline earth metal Standard atomic weight [n 2] [20] [21] Melting point Melting point Boiling point [4] Boiling point [4] Density (g/cm 3) [22] Electronegativity First ionization energy (kJ·mol −1) Covalent radius [23] Flame test color Beryllium: 9.012182(3) 1560: 1287: 2744
Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 of the periodic table) it occurs naturally only in combination with other elements and almost always has an oxidation state of +2. It reacts readily with air to form a thin passivation coating of magnesium oxide that inhibits further corrosion of the metal. The free metal burns with a brilliant ...
Barium is a soft, silvery-white metal, with a slight golden shade when ultrapure. [9]: 2 The silvery-white color of barium metal rapidly vanishes upon oxidation in air yielding a dark gray layer containing the oxide. Barium has a medium specific weight and high electrical conductivity. Because barium is difficult to purify, many of its ...
As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to its heavier homologues strontium and barium. It is the fifth most abundant element in Earth's crust, and the third most abundant metal, after iron and aluminium.
A basic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal [2] (this includes Mg(OH) 2 (magnesium hydroxide) but excludes NH 3 ). Any base that is soluble in water and forms hydroxide ions [3] [4] or the solution of a base in water. [5] (This includes both Mg(OH) 2 and NH 3, which forms NH 4 OH.) The second subset of bases is also called an ...
To ensure safety and purity, this metal is usually kept under dry mineral oil or sealed in glass ampoules in an inert atmosphere. Rubidium forms peroxides on exposure even to a small amount of air diffused into the oil, and storage is subject to similar precautions as the storage of metallic potassium .