INORGANIC CHEMISTRY II

CHEMISTRY OF ALKALINE
EARTH METAL

BY:
1. NI

PUTU

WULAN

ROMIANINGSIH

(1113031073/IVA)
2. NI PUTU ASRI WINDAYANI
(1113031076/IVA)
3. PUTU
CANDRA

YUNI

ARTINI

(1113031077/IVA)

CHEMISTRY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES
GANESHA UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION
SINGARAJA
2013

No.
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1.2 Introduction: interesting, logic,

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structure of writing, coherency and

unity.
1.3 Body: the concepts, quality of

explanation (discussion), coherency,

unity
1.4 Concluding Remark: showing

conclusion or remarking future looks

or suggestion.
1.5 References: way to cite, way to

write and concise, enough relevant

2.

reference.
Non-Content
2.1 English quality writing
2.2 Order of typing, figure, table, and
time of hand in.
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CHEMISTRY OF ALKALINE EARTH METAL

Group IIA elements in periodic table are known as the alkaline earth metal.
The alkaline earth metals are somewhat less electropositive and less reactive than the
alkali metals (Chang, 2010: 901). Except for the first member of the family,
beryllium, which resembles aluminum (a Group 3A metal) in some respects, the
alkaline earth metals have similar chemical properties. The relationships among the
elements in group IIA (beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium and
radium) are very like those among the alkali metals. Because their M2+ ions attain the
stable electron configuration of the preceding noble gas, the oxidation number of
alkaline earth metals in the combined form is almost always +2. Radium was little to
say in this essay because it is radioactive and is formed as

226

Ra88 -emitter in the

238

U92 decay series. This essay will explain briefly the history, abundance, isolation,

uses and properties of alkaline earth metal elements, as well as the properties of
alkaline earth metal compounds such as the hydrides, halides, oxides, hydroxides,
and salt of oxyacids.
The earliest known alkaline earth was lime (Latin: calx), which is now known
to be calcium oxide; it was used in ancient times in the composition of mortar.
Magnesia (the name derives probably from the ancient district of Magnesia in Asia
Minor), the oxide of magnesium, was shown to be an alkaline earth different from
lime by the Scottish chemist Joseph Black in 1755; he observed that magnesia gave
rise to a soluble sulfate, whereas that derived from lime was known to be insoluble.
In 1774 Carl Wilhelm Scheele, the Swedish chemist who discovered oxygen, found
that the mineral called heavy spar or barys (Greek: heavy) contained a new earth,
which became known as baryta (barium oxide). A further earth, strontia (strontium
oxide), was identified by the London chemists Adair Crawford and William
Cruickshank in 1790 on examining a mineral (strontium carbonate) found in a lead
mine at Strontian in Argyllshire, Scotland. Beryllia (beryllium oxide) was extracted
from the mineral beryl and recognized as an earth by the French analytical chemist
Nicolas-Louis Vauquelin in 1798 (Britannica Encyclopedia, 2012).

Magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium that is elements derived from

alkaline earths were isolated as impure metals by Sir Humphry Davy in 1808 by
means of the electrolytic method he had previously used for isolating the alkali
metals potassium and sodium. The alkaline-earth metals were later produced by
reduction of their salts with free alkali metals, and it was in this way (the action of
potassium on beryllium chloride) that beryllium was first isolated by the German
chemist Friedrich Whler and the French chemist Antoine Bussy independently in
1828. Radium was discovered in 1898 by means of its radioactivity by Pierre and
Marie Curie, who separated it from barium (Britannica Encyclopedia, 2012).
Properties
The group 2 elements are good conductor and electricity. The alkaline earth
metals are less electropositive and less reactive than the alkali metals. In all
compounds, group 2 have an oxidation number +2. The observed result of this
decrease in size is that the Group 2 elements are denser and have higher ionization
energies than the Group 1 elements. Group 2 also have higher melting and boiling
points and higher enthalpies of fusion and vaporization (Miessler & Tarr, -: 255).
Selected physical properties of the alkaline earths are given in the following table.
Table 1. Physical Properties of Alkaline Earth Metals
Be

Mg

Ca

Sr

Ba

Valence electron configuration

2s2

3s2

4s2

5s2

6s2

Density (g/cm3)

1.86

1.74

1.55

2.6

3.5

Melting point (oC)

1280

650

838

770

714

Boiling point (oC)

2770

1170

1484

1380

1640

Atomic radius (pm)

112

160

197

215

222

Ionic radius (pm*)

34

78

106

127

143

First and second ionization

899

738

590

548

502

energies (kJ/mol)

1757

1450

1145

1058

958

Electronegativity

1.5

1.2

1.0

1.0

0.9

Standard reduction potential (V)

-1.85

-2.37

-2.87

-2.89

-2.90

Source: (Chang, 2010: 901)

Beryllium and magnesium are grayish metals, while the remaining group 2
metals are soft and silver-colored. The metals are malleable, ductile and quite brittle;
in air, the shiny surface of each metal quickly tarnishes (Housecroft & Sharpe, 2008:
305-306).
The elements in Group 2 (IIA), with the exception of beryllium, have very
similar chemical properties, with much of their chemistry governed by their tendency
to lose two electrons to achieve a noble gas electron configuration. In general,
elements in this group are good reducing agents. Although not as violently reactive
toward water as the alkali metals, the alkaline earths react readily with acids to
generate hydrogen:
Mg + 2H+ Mg2+ + H2
The reducing ability of these elements increases with atomic number. As a
consequence, calcium and the heavier alkaline earths react directly with water in a
reaction that can conveniently generate small quantities of hydrogen:
Ca + H2O Ca(OH)2 + H2
(Miessler &Tarr, -:255)
When heated, all the group 2 metals combine with O 2, N2, sulfur or halogens as
shown in the following equation.
2M + O2 2MO

M = Ca, Sr, Ba

3M + N2 M3N2
8M + S8 8MS
M + X2 MX2

X = F, Cl, Br, I

When heated with H2, Ca, Sr and Ba form saline hydrides, MH 2, but Mg
reacts only under high pressure. In contrast, BeH 2 is prepared from beryllium alkyl.
Beryllium combines with carbon at high temperature to form Be2C. The other
elements of group 2 metals form carbides MC2. Whereas Be2C reacts with water, the
carbides of the later metals hydrolyze to yield C 2H2 according the following
equation.
Be2C + 4H2O 2Be(OH)2 + CH4

MC2 + 2H2O M(OH)2 + C2H2

M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba

Beryllium is distinctly different from the other alkaline earths in its chemical
properties. The smallest of the alkaline earths, it participates primarily in covalent
rather than ionic bonding. Although the ion [Be(H2O)4]2+ is known, free Be2+ ions are
rarely, if ever, encountered. Beryllium and its compounds are extremely toxic, and
special precautions are required in their handling. (Miessler &Tarr, -:255)
Besides, emission spectra for the group 2 metals are readily observed and
flame test can be used to distinguish between Ca, Sr and Ba containing compounds:
Ca (orange-red, but pale green when viewed through blue gas), Sr (crimson, but
violet through blue gas), Ba (apple-green) (Housecroft & Sharpe, 2008: 305-306).
Abundance
Beryllium occur as the silicate mineral beryl, Be3Al2[Si6O18]. It is also found
in many natural minerals, and precious forms including emerald and aquamarine.
Magnesium and calcium are the eighth and fifth most abundant elements in the
Earths crust, and Mg is third most abundant in the sea. The elements Mg, Ca, Sr and
Ba are widely distributed in mineral and as dissolved salts in seawater. The minerals
are dolomite (CaCO3.MgCO3), magnesite (MgCO3), olivine ((Mg,Fe)2SiO4),
carnallite (KCl.MgCl2.6H2O), CaCO3 (chalk, limestone, and marble), gypsum
(CaSO4.2H2O), calastite (SrSO4), strontianite (SrCO3) and barites (BaSO4). Radium
is radioactive and is formed as

226

Ra88 in the

238

U92 decay series. (Housecroft &

Sharpe, 2008: 305-306)

Isolation
Magnesium is produced in several ways. Two important sources are dolomite
rock and seawater. Magnesium is manufactured on a large scale. The mixed metals
carbonate dolomite as thermally decomposed to a mixture of CaO and MgO, MgO is
reduced by ferrosilicon in Ni vessels; Mg is removed by distillation in vacuo.
(Housecroft & Sharpe, 2008: 306)
2MgO + 2CaO + FeSi 2Mg + Ca2SiO4 + Fe

T = 1450 K

Magnesium is also isolated from MgCl2 by electrolysis and is applied to the

extraction of the metal from seawater. The first step is precipitation of Mg(OH) 2 by
addition of Ca(OH)2 (slake lime), produced from CaCO3. Neutralization with
hydrochloric acid and evaporation of water gives MgCl 2. xH2O, which, after heating
at 990 K, yields the anhydrous chloride. Electrolysis of molten MgCl 2 and
solidification of Mg completes the process is shown in the following equation.
(Housecroft & Sharpe, 2008: 306)
2HCl + Mg(OH)2 MgCl2 + H2O
At the cathode: Mg2+(l) + 2e- Mg(l)
At the anode: 2Cl-(l) Cl2(g) + 2eBeryllium is obtained from beryl by heating with Na 2SiF6 and extracting the
water, and then soluble BeF2 and precipitate of Be(OH)2 are formed. Then beryllium
is produced by reduction of BeF2 or by electrolysis of BeCl2 which is fused with
NaCl. (Housecroft & Sharpe, 2008: 306)
BeF2 + Mg Be + MgF2

T = 1550 K

The production of Ca is by electrolysis of fused CaCl2 and CaF2. Strontium

and barium are extracted by reduction of corresponding oxides by Al, or by
electrolysis of MCl2 (M = Sr, Ba).
The metal of strontium can be prepared by electrolysis of melted strontium chloride
mixed with potassium chloride:
At the cathode: Sr2+ + 2e- Sr
At the anode: 2Cl- Cl2(g) + 2eAlternatively it is made by reducing strontium oxide with aluminium in a vacuum at
a temperature at which strontium distills off.
Barium metal is difficult to obtain in its pure form, because it quickly
becomes oxidized in air. It is primarily found and extracted from the mineral barite
which is crystallized barium sulfate. Barium is commercially produced through the
electrolysis of molten barium chloride (BaCl2) Isolation;
At the cathode: Ba2+ + 2e- Ba
At the anode: Cl- 0.5Cl2(g) + e-

Radium as radioactive was first isolated by Pierre and Marie Curie from the
uranium ore, pitchblende. It was collected from solutions by coprecipitation with
BaSO4 and the nitrates subsequently fractionally crystallized.

Uses
Beryllium is used in the manufacture of body part in high-speed aircraft and
missiles, and in communication satellites because it is very light. Because of its low
electron density, Be is poor absorber of electromagnetic radiation and, as a result, is
used in X-ray tube windows. It has high melting point and cross-section for neutron
capture make Be useful in the nuclear energy industry.
The presence of Mg having a strong reducing power in Mg/Al alloys gives
greater mechanical strength and resistance to corrosion, and also improves
fabrication properties. Alloys of Mg/Al are used in aircraft and automobile body
parts and lightweight tools. Its strong reducing power also means that it can be used
to extract less electropositive metals such as titanium in the Kroll process, which take
place at 1250 K under an argon atmosphere:
2Mg(s) + TiCl4(g) Ti(s) + 2MgCl2(l)
(Ratcliff et. al, 2004: 217)
Magnesium is still used in the manufacture of fireworks, flares, and photographic
flashlights and medical applications such as indigestion powder (milk of magnesia,
Mg(OH)2) and a purgative (Epsom salts, MgSO4.7H2O) (Housecroft & Sharpe, 2008:
307). Magnesium is also used for the preparation of Grignard reagents. Magnesium
plays several important biological roles. It is present in intracellular and extracellular
fluids. Magnesium ions are essential for the proper functioning of a number of
enzymes. Magnesium is also present in the green plant pigment chlorophyll, which
plays an important part in photosynthesis.
Uses of calcium compounds far outnumber those of the metal, with the world
production of CaO, Ca(OH)2, CaO.MgO, Ca(OH)2.MgO and Ca(OH)2.Mg(OH)2.
Calcium oxide (quicklime or lime) is produced by calcining limestone and it is used
as a component in building mortar. Calcium oxide is the origin of the theatrical term
limelight, because it glows with a bright white light when strongly heated and was

originally used in stage lightening (Ratcliff et. al, 2004: 218). Dry sand and CaO
mixtures can be stored and transported. On adding water, and as CO 2 is absorbed, the
mortar sets as solid CaCO3. The sand in the mortar is a binding agent.
Hr0 = -65 kJ mol-1

CaO(s) + H2O(l) Ca(OH)2(s)

Quicklime

Slaked lime

Ca(OH)2(s) + CO2(g) CaCO3(s) + H2O(l)

(Housecroft & Sharpe, 2008: 307)
Lime is also used in the steel industry, pulp, and paper manufacturing, and extraction
of Mg. For example, calcium carbonate is in manufacturing of steel, glass, cement
and concrete. Large quantities of Ca(OH)2 are used to manufacture bleaching
powder, Ca(OCl)2.Ca(OH)2.CaCl2.2H2O and in water treatment. Calcium fluoride
that occurs in nature as the fluorspar is important as the raw material for the
manufacture of HF and F2 as the following reaction equation.
CaF2 +H2SO4 2HF + Ca(HSO4)2
In small amount, CaF2 is also used as a flux in the steel industry, for welding
electrode coatings, and manufacture of glass.
There are two mineral source of strontium, namely the sulfate (celestite) and
carbonate (strontianite). The main use of strontium is as a component in color
television faceplate glass where it has function to stop X-ray emissions from the
cathode ray tube (CRT). Other uses of strontium are in ferrite ceramic magnets and
pyrotechnics.
Barite (BaSO4) which is known as the mineral of barium is used as weighting
material in oil and gas. On small scale of application, the ability of BaSO4 to stop the
passage of X-rays leads to its use as a barium meal in radiology for imaging the
alimentary tract. Uses of Ba as a getter in vacuum tubes arise from its high reactivity
with gases including O2 and N2. Radium has been used in the treatment of cancerous
tumors, but its use has largely been superseded by other radioisotopes.
Hydrides
All Group II elements, except beryllium, form hydrides by direct combination
with hydrogen. Beryllium hydride (BeH2) was first prepared in 1951 by reduction of

BeCl2 in ether and by reaction of BeMe2 with LiAlH4. The purer one can be obtained
by pryolysis of Be(t-Bu)2 at 210oC. (Greenwood & Earnshaw; 1997: 115)
The hydrides of the metals except magnesium and beryllium are white and
ionic solids. The hydrides are stable in dry air but react with water, the vigor of the
reaction increasing with the molecular weight of the hydride.
MH2 + 2H2O M(OH)2 + H2
This reaction is due to the very strong basic property of the hydride ion H - which
behaves as a powerful proton acceptor and is therefore strongly basic, i.e.
H- + H2O H2 + OHWhen the molten ionic hydrides are electrolyzed, all yield hydrogen at the anode and
the metal at the cathode.
The hydrides of beryllium and magnesium are covalent. Magnesium hydride
has a rutile structure while beryllium hydride forms an electron-deficient chain
structure. (Chambers and Holliday, 1975: 126)
Halides
Group II metals also form halides but the properties of beryllium halides are
slightly different with the rests in group. As a consequence of the high ionization
energy, beryllium halides are essentially covalent, with comparatively low melting
points. Its melts is non-conducting and dissolving in many organic solvents. BeF 2 is
obtained as a glass (sublimation point 1073 K) from thermal decomposition of
[NH4]2[BeF4]. In the other hand, BeCl2 can be prepared from its oxide as following
reaction
2 BeO + C + Cl2 2 BeCl2 + CO2
Polymerization may occur in beryllium halides trough bridging, such as in F and Cl
giving chain polymers of type [BeF2]n and [BeCl2]n. For instance, the internal Cl-BeCl angles in [BeCl2]n are 98o which means that Be(2-Cl)2Be units are somewhat
elongated in the direction of the chain exist. In this case, each Be atom can be
considered to be sp3 hybridized and a localized -bonding scheme is appropriate in
which each Cl donates a lone pair electrons into an empty hybrid orbital on an
adjacent Be atom. These distortions from ideal tetrahedral angle for a four coordinate

Be atom are dependents on the nature of the bridging group and are related to the
presence of lone pairs on the bridging atoms.
Cl

Cl

Cl
Be

Be

Be

Be

Cl

Cl

Cl
Figure 1. The chain structure of BeCl2

In the gas phase at high temperature, the halides forms are linear molecules, X-Be-X.
At low temperature, however, the halides exist in appreciable amounts as dimer.
Cl
Be

Be
Cl

Figure 2. The dimer structure of BeCl2

(Cotton, 1995: 308)

The lower members in Group II form essentially ionic halides, with magnesium
having intermediate properties. Since they are ionic; therefore have relatively high
melting point, the melts acting as conductors. The bromide, chloride, iodide readily
absorb water. The ability to form hydrates as well as solubility in water decrease with
increasing atomic size. This is because the hydration energies decrease more rapidly
than the lattice energy with increasing M2+.
The fluoride vary in solubility, that is Mg<Ca<Sr<Ba because of the small size
of the F- relative to the M2+ ion. The lattice energy decreases unusually rapidly
because the large cations make contact with one another at the same time making
contact with F- ions. (Cotton, 1995: 313)
The most important fluoride of the alkaline earth
metals is CaF2 since the mineral (fluorite) is the only
large-scale sources of fluorine. Magnesium chloride
(MgCl2) is one of the most important salts of Mg

9
Figure 3. CaF2 (fluorite)

industrially and its concentration in sea water exceed only by NaCl. Calcium chloride
(CaCl2) also has great importance. Its traditional use include: (1) brine for
refrigeration plants; (2) control snow and ice on highways and pavements; (3) dust
control on secondary roads, unpaved streets. (Greenwood & Earnshaw; 1997: 119)
Oxides
The oxides (MO) are white, high melting crystalline solids, with NaCl-type
lattice. They are best obtained by calcining the carbonates. Beryllium oxide (BeO)
has good chemical stability and a very high conductivity. Calcium oxide (CaO),
which is also referred to as quicklime, is one of the oldest materials known to
mankind. Quicklime is produced by the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate:
CaCO3(s) + CaO(s) CO2(g)
Calcium oxide is used in cement, mortar and plaster manufacture. It still has a very
important role in purifying iron, as it reacts with impurities in the ore to from a
molten slag:
CaO + SiO2 CaSiO3
(Ratcliff, et al., 2004: 219)
The chemistry of magnesium is intermediate between that of beryllium and the
heavier Group 2A elements. Magnesium does not react with cold water but does
react slowly with steam:
Mg(s) + H2O(g) MgO(s) + H2(g)
Magnesium oxide reacts very slowly with water to form magnesium hydroxide, a
white solid suspension called milk of magnesia, which is used to treat acid
indigestion:
MgO(s) + H2O(l) Mg(OH)2(s)
(Chang, 2010: 902)
Hydroxides
The hydroxides M"(OH)2 of alkaline earth metal are generally less soluble and
are of lower base strength than alkaline metal (Chambers & Holliday, 1975: 130).
Beryllium hydroxide is obtained as a white gelatinous precipitate when OH - ions are
added to a solution of a beryllium salt. Beryllium hydroxide is amphoteric and this

10

sets it apart from the hydroxide of the other group 2 metals which are basic. This
amphoteric is also shown by aluminium hydroxide in Group III where it has
characteristic of small ions of high charge, i.e. Be 2+ and A13+ (Housecroft & Sharpe,
2008: 317). It is only sparingly soluble in water, dissolving in strong acids to give the
hydrated beryllium ion [Be(H2O)4]2+ , but also dissolving in solutions containing the
hydroxide ion to give the tetrahedral complex ion of tetrahydroxoberyllate(II) ion
[Be(OH)4]2+; addition of acid first reprecipitates the hydroxide Be(OH) 2 (as a white
gelatinous hydrated precipitate) and then re-dissolves it to give the hydrated ion;
hence the following is sequence of the reaction (Chambers & Holliday, 1975: 131):
[Be(H2O)4]

2+

OH
+

OH

Be(OH)2

[Be(H2O)4]

(H2O)2

2-

2-

OH

Be

OH

HO

OH

Figure 4. Tetrahedral complex ion of [Be(OH)4]2The other Group II hydroxides M"(OH)2 (M"=Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) are sparingly
soluble in water, the solubility increasing down the group; as do their thermal
stabilities with respect to decomposition into MO and H2O (Housecroft & Sharpe,
2008: 317). Magnesium hydroxide acts as weak base, whereas Ca(OH)2, Sr(OH)2 and
Ba(OH)2, are strong base. Magnesium hydroxide is precipitated only by an
appreciable concentration of hydroxide ion (not by ammonium hydroxide in presence
of ammonium chloride) and the others are not precipitated. Magnesium hydroxide is
a weak alkali and is also used in toothpastes; where it helps to neutralize acids in
mouth with encourage tooth decay. Representing acid as H +(aq), the following
reaction occurs:
Mg(OH)2(s) + 2H+(aq) Mg2+(aq) +2H2O(l)

11

Soda lime is a mixture of NaOH and Ca(OH)2 and is manufactured from CaO and
aqueous NaOH. Soda lime is easier to handle than NaOH and is commercially
available, being used, for example, as an absorbent for CO2, and in qualitative test
for [NH4]+ salts, amides, imides and related compounds which evolve NH 3 when
heated with soda lime.
Table 2. Summary Properties of Hydroxide
Element
M(OH)2

Be
Insoluble

Mg

Amphoteric

Ca

Sr
Ba
Solubility increase
Base strength increase

Source: (Chambers & Holliday, 1975: 131)

Salts of oxyacids
There are some salts of oxyacids of group two metal such as the carbonates
and sulfates. Most beryllium salts of strong oxyacids crystallize as soluble hydrates.
Beryllium carbonate tends to hydrolyze, giving a salt containing [Be(OH 2)4]2+.
Beryllium carbonate can be isolated only by precipitation under an atmosphere of
CO2. Beryllium is unique in forming a series of stable volatile, molecular oxidecarboxylates of general formula [OBe4(RCO2)6], where R= H, Me, Et, Pr, Ph, etc
(Greenwood & Earnshaw, 1997: 122). These white crystalline compounds, of which
basic beryllium acetate (R=Me) is a typical, are readily soluble in organic solvents,
including alkanes, but are insoluble in water or the lower alcohols. The carbonate of
Mg and the later metals are sparingly soluble in water (Housecroft & Sharpe, 2008:
317). Their thermal stabilities increase with cation size, and this trend can be
rationalized in terms of lattice energies. The metal carbonates are much more soluble
in a solution of CO2 than in water due to the formation of [HCO 3]-. However, salts of
the type M(HCO3)2 have not been isolated.
Hard water contains Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions which complex with the stearate ions
in soaps, producing insoluble scum in household baths and basins (Housecroft &
Sharpe, 2008: 318). Temporary hardness is due to the presence of hydrogencarbonate
salts and can be overcome by boiling which produce precipitate of CaCO 3 and/or
MgCO3, or by adding an appropriate amount of Ca(OH)2 as the following reaction.

12

Ca(HCO3)2 (aq) CaCO3(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

Ca(HCO3)2 (aq) + Ca(OH)2(aq) 2CaCO3(s) + H2O(l)
Permanent hardness is caused by other Mg 2+ and Ca2+ salts (e.g. sulfates). The
process of water softening involves passing the hard water through a cation-exchange
resin. Washing-machine detergents contain builders that remove Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions
from washing water; polyphosphate have been used for this purpose, but because
phosphates are damaging to the environment, zeolite are used in preference.
Calcium carbonate occurs naturally in two crystalline forms, calcite and the
metastable aragonite (Housecroft & Sharpe, 2008: 318). In calcite, the Ca 2+ and
CO32- ions are arranged in such as way that each Ca 2+ ion is 6-coordinate with respect
to the carbonate O atoms, whereas in aragonite, each Ca 2+ ion is surrounded by nine
O atoms. The energy difference between them is <5 kJ/mol with calcite being
thermodynamically favored form. However, aragonite is kinetically stable with
respect to conversion to calcite. Aragonite can be prepared in the laboratory by
precipitation of CaCO3 from hot aqueous solution.
Sulfates of Mg and Ca have important applications. Hydrated calcium sulfate
(CaSO4.2H2O, gypsum) occurs naturally and is also a product of desulfurization
processes involving Ca(OH)2 or CaCO3 (Housecroft & Sharpe, 2008: 318). Gypsum
crystals cleave easily owing to the presence of layers which are held together by
hydrogen bonding. When gypsum is heated at 400K, it form the hemihydrate
CaSO4. H2O, and if this is mixed with water, the material expands slightly as the
dihydrate is regenerated. Barium sulfate is a sparingly soluble salt (Ksp= 1.07 x 10-10)
and the formation of white precipitate of BaSO4 is used as a qualitative test for the
presence of sulfate ions in aqueous solution.
BaCl2(aq) + SO42-(aq) BaSO4(s) + 2Cl-(aq)
Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded that the alkaline earth
metals are less electropositive and less reactive than the alkali metals. The elements
are good conductor and electricity; and in all compounds, groups 2 have an oxidation
number +2. The elements are widely founded in the form of mineral and the isolation
of the elements can be done by several ways e.g. electrolysis. Alkaline earth metal
elements have many uses namely beryllium is used in the manufacture of body part

13

in high-speed aircraft and missiles, and in communication satellites; magnesium is

still used in the manufacture of fireworks, flares, and photographic flashlights and
medical applications such as indigestion powder (milk of magnesia, Mg(OH)2) and a
purgative (Epsom salts, MgSO4.7H2O); uses of calcium compounds far outnumber
those of the metal, with the world production of CaO, Ca(OH)2, CaO.MgO,
Ca(OH)2.MgO and Ca(OH)2.Mg(OH)2.; strontium is used as a component in color
television faceplate glass; radium has been used in the treatment of cancerous
tumors. Alkaline earth metals are forming compounds with other elements in the
form of hydrides, halides, oxides, hydroxides, and salt of oxyacids which have
different characteristics.

14

References:
Alkaline Earth Metals. 2012. Encyclopdia Britannica. Encyclopdia Britannica
Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopdia Britannica.
Chambers, C.,Holliday, A.K.. 1975. Modern Inorganic Chemistry: An Intermediate
Text. Great Britain: Butterworth & Co Ltd.
Chang, Raymond. 2010. Chemistry Tenth Edition. New York: Mc Graw Hill
Company.
Cotton, F.A, Wilkinson, G, and Gaus, P.L. 1995. Basic Inorganic Chemistry: Third
Edition. New York: John Wiley & Son
Greenwood, N N, Earnshaw, A. 1997. Chemistry of the Elements: Second Edition.
Great Britain: Elsevier Ltd.
Housecroft, Catherine E., Sharpe, Alan G.. 2008. Inorganic Chemistry: Third
Edition. Italia: Rotolito Lambarda.
Miessler , Gary L. and Tarr, Donald A. -. Inorganic Chemistry. Third Edition.
Minnesota: Pearson.
Ratcliff, Brian et.al. 2004. Chemistry: AS Level and A Level. England: Cambridge
University Press.

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