Question

Alkaline earth metals come under
A. Halogens
B. Representative elements
C. Transition elements
D. Inner transition elements
E. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: The term alkaline earth metals is used for 2^nd group elements of the periodic table. They are named alkaline earth metals because of their nature of oxides, that is, alkaline. Also, because of the availability of these metal oxides on the earth’s surface.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
Let's discuss all the options one by one.

Halogens are the elements whose valence shell is filled with seven numbers of electrons. There is the need for only one electron to attain stability. So, they possess an electronegative character. They occupy the 17^th group in the periodic table. Therefore, alkaline earth metals cannot be called halogens.
Transition elements are the elements that occupy the positions in the group number 3 to 13. They possess valence electrons in the subshell d. Therefore, they are also named d-block elements. Thus, option C is wrong.

The inner transition elements are divided into two groups namely lanthanoids and actinoids. They provide a transition between the d and s blocks. Therefore, alkaline earth metals cannot be named inner transition elements. Therefore, D is wrong.

Representative elements possess less than eight numbers of valence electrons. So, the elements that belong to 1^st , 2^nd , 13^th to 17^th are representative elements.
Therefore, option B is right.

Note: There is the classification of the periodic table into four parts, namely, s, p, d and f block. The s block refers to the 1^st and 2^nd group, the p block refers to the 13^th to 18^th group, the d block refers to the 3^rd to 12^th group and the f block refers to actinoids and lanthanoids.