The Alkali Metals are: Lithium Sodium Potassium Rubidium Cesium Francium

The Alkaline Earth Metals are: Beryllium Magnesium Calcium Strontium Barium Radium

CHARACTERISTICS COMMON TO ALKALI METALS Very reactive metals Have only one electron in their outer Malleable Ductile Good conductors of heat and electricity Explode if they are exposed to water CHARACTERISTICS COMMON TO ALKALINE EARTH METALS Soft metals More metallic in character compared to group 1 Silver in color Have to electrons in their valence shell Has slight solubility in water Inability to decompose when exposed to heat UNIQUE TRAITS OF ELEMENTS OF THE ALKALI METAL GROUP shell

Lithium the lightest and least dense of all alkali metals has a low ionization energy Sodium extremely reactive metal Potassium oxidizes easily lavender flame color Rubidium reddish flame color known to have about 26 isotopes Cesium low melting point forms a strong base with water Francium very radioactive most reactive of the alkali metals group

heaviest and most electropositive metal has the lowest boiling point melts at low temperatures UNIQUE TRAITS OF ELEMENTS OF THE ALKALINE EARTH METAL GROUP Beryllium has the highest melting point (1560 K) in Group 2 extremely light with high ionization energy has a strong attraction for oxygen at high temperatures Calcium found free in nature

not considered to be toxic reacts vigorously and sometimes violently with water and acids when it is pure Strontium extremely reactive slightly softer than calcium Radium heaviest and most radioactive reacts explosively with water Magnesium highly flammable extremely difficult to put out once ignited

PERSONALITIES BEHIND THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS ELEMENT DISCOVERER DATE OF DISCOVERY Lithium Johann Arfvedson 1817 Sodium Sir Humphrey Davy 1807 Rubidium Robert Bunsen 1861 Cesium Fustov Kirchoff 1860 Francium Marguerite Derey 1939 Beryllium Fredrich Wohler 1798 Magnesium Sir Humphrey Davy 1808 Calcium Sir Humphrey Davy 1808 Strontium Adair Crawford 1790 Barium Sir Humphrey Davy 1808 Radium Pierre and Marie Curie 1898 ADDED INFORMATION OR TRIVIA one of the most abundant elements in the Potassium named after the word Potash (means that Potassium is an element contained in the compound) earth's crust used mostly to produce chemicals, such as fertilizers for use in agriculture. important nutrient needed for plant growth.

Rubidium named after the latin word for red -rubidius Cesium often used as a catalyst in various hydrogenation organic reactions Lithium named after the Greek word for stone (lithos) the lightest and least dense of all alkali metals Often used in rechargeable batteries. Sodium named after the Latin word for soda, Natria used in nuclear reactors because of its low boiling point. important part of human diet used during winter months to control the ice on the road. *Alkali Metals -have low boiling and melting points and are less dense than most elements -good reducing agents (meaning they are easily oxidized) -found naturally in nature, but not in their pure forms Calcium important for construction

used to aid cheese production. Strontium can be used to make alloys in its pure form can also be used in fireworks can be used to treat sufferers of osteoporosis Radium heaviest and most radioactive reacts explosively with water pure white but when exposed to air it immediately oxidizes and turns black *Alkaline Earth MetalsThe name "Alkaline" is from its slight solubility in water, and "Earth" is derived from its inability to decompose when exposed to heat. Beryllium renamed beryllium (beryl means "to become pale" in Greek) after the fact that its gemstone was a pale color used mostly to strengthen alloys very rare on Earth as well as in the universe used in aircraft production to make the nozzle of liquid-fuelled spacecrafts, and make mirrors in meteorological satellites Magnesium extremely common in seawater

used for structural purposes to make car engines, pencil sharpeners, and many electronic devices such as laptops, and cell phones also often used in fireworks.