Question

(a) How do alkaline earth metals occur in nature?
(b) Write the electronic configuration of the first two alkaline earth metals.

Answer 1

a) Alkaline earth metals occur freely in nature

b)Beryllium[Atomic No.-4] (1st element) - 2,2
Magnesium[Atomic No.-12] (2nd element)- 2,8,2

Answer 2

All the alkaline earth metals readily lose their two outermost electrons to form cations with a 2+ charge. All of the alkaline earth metals except magnesium and strontium have at least one naturally occurring radioisotope. Magnesium and calcium are ubiquitous and essential to all known living organisms.