Final answer:
Both alkali metals and alkaline earth metals are located in specific groups on the periodic table. While alkali metals have a single valence electron and are highly reactive, alkaline earth metals have two valence electrons and are less reactive.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both alkali metals and alkaline earth metals are found in Group 1 and Group 2 of the periodic table, respectively. They both have metallic properties and are highly reactive. However, they differ in terms of their electron configurations and reactivity.
Alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium, have a single valence electron in their outermost shell. This makes them highly reactive and prone to losing their valence electron to form a 1+ cation. Alkaline earth metals, such as calcium and magnesium, have two valence electrons, which makes them less reactive than alkali metals but still reactive enough to form 2+ cations.