Question

Alkaline earth metals have valency 2. This means that their position in the modern Periodic table is in...
A.Group 2
B.Group 16
C.Period 2
D.d-block

Answer 1

Hint: All the Alkaline earth metals have 2 electrons in their outermost orbits. These elements are ready to lose their 2 electrons and form cations. Thus, their valency is +2. And due to the presence of 2 electrons in the outer most orbit, they fall in group 2 (IIA) of the periodic table.

Complete step by step answer:
Alkaline earth metal that comes under this group are as follows:
Beryllium - Be
Magnesium - Mg
Calcium - Ca
Strontium - Sr
Barium- Ba
Radium- Ra
They all have the valency of 2.
In most cases, the alkaline earth metals are ionized to form a 2+ charge. That means they belong to the 2nd group of modern periodic tables where all the elements possess the same valency 2. As their differentiating electrons enter the orbital, they belong to the S block.
Thus, we know that the position of Alkaline earth metal in the modern periodic table is in Group 2.
Group 2 elements have two valence electrons. The two valence electrons are easily lost in the formation of chemical bonds. Once the two electrons are lost, the atom then has a full outer shell and is therefore more stable.

Therefore, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: It was not until later that scientists were able to separate the metallic, elemental forms from the oxides, but the name “alkaline earth” stuck. Group 2 elements are called alkaline earth metals because they form “alkaline solutions”, hydroxides, when react with water and their oxides are found in earth crust