Group 2 Elements

Group 2 metals are called the alkaline earth metals. They include beryllium, magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium and radium which is radioactive.The elements have two electrons in the outer s-orbital. As you go down the group the outer s-orbital is further away from the nucleus.Beryllium is not typical of the rest of the group so is not covered.They are bright silvery solids and react with oxygen in the air to form a white oxide layer which makes them appear dull.The group 2 metals are similar to group 1 metals but less reactive as they lose 2 electrons from the outer s-orbital rather than 1.