Alkali metals (Group 1) and alkaline earth metals (Group 2) share several characteristics:
- Both groups are metallic and have a shiny, silvery-white appearance.
- They are relatively soft metals, though alkali metals are softer than alkaline earth metals.
- Both conduct electricity well due to their metallic bonding and free-moving electrons.
- They have relatively low densities compared to many other metals.
- Both react with water to form alkaline solutions, producing hydroxide ions and hydrogen gas, though alkali metals are more reactive.
- Both groups readily lose electrons to form positive ions: alkali metals form +1 ions, alkaline earth metals form +2 ions.
- They have relatively low melting points compared to most metals, with alkali metals generally melting at lower temperatures than alkaline earth metals.
- Both are highly reactive metals but alkaline earth metals are less reactive than alkali metals.
These shared traits arise from their position as s-block elements in the periodic table with loosely held valence electrons that they readily lose in chemical reactions.
