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What colour and appearance do freshly cut alkaline-earth metals have?
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alkaline-earth metal
Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).
When freshly cut, alkaline-earth metals exhibit a gray-white lustre. While they share this general appearance, the specific colour of each element can be categorized as follows:1
- Beryllium: Gray1
- Magnesium: Silvery white1
- Calcium: Silvery white1
- Strontium: Silvery white1
- Barium: Silvery white1
- Radium: Bright white1
It is important to note that these metals are highly reactive and will tarnish readily when exposed to air, particularly the heavier members of the group.1