What defines an alkaline earth metal?

The alkaline earth metal group is the 2nd column in the periodic table, which means alkaline earth metals have two electrons on their valence shell they wish to lose. This means that all alkaline earth metals are quite reactive, but not as much as the elements of Group I: Alkali metals​. They can be stored exposed to air, like the strips of Mg, magnesium​ used in class.

• metals
• soft
• shiny; matte when oxidized
• low in density
• reactive
  • form ions of charge 2+