alkaline-earth metal: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	Group IIa element • Group 2 element

Photos

A color-coded periodic table of the elements displays each element's symbol and atomic number, with categories such as alkali metals, noble gases, halogens, transition metals, and actinoid elements distinguished by different background colors.

magnesium fire starter, sharpener, and ribbon

Cluster of natural magnesite mineral crystals with sharp, metallic silver formations against a dark blue background.

A pale blue aquamarine crystal embedded in a rough, light-colored mineral matrix, with the hexagonal crystal structure clearly visible.

apparatus used by Marie and Pierre Curie to study radium

technician working on a beryllium mirror

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Topics

calcium magnesium beryllium radium barium strontium chemical element rare-earth element transition metal hydrogen alkali metal actinoid element carbon group element boron group element oxygen group element nitrogen group element halogen

Key People

Sir Humphry Davy

Sir Humphry Davy

English chemist

Periodic Table of the elements concept image (chemistry)

Facts You Should Know: The Periodic Table Quiz