Question

How are alkali metals & Alkaline earth metals found in nature? Why are they found like that? A) Alkali metals are found in compounds, and Alkaline earth metals are found as pure elements. This is due to their reactivity. B) Both alkali metals and Alkaline earth metals are found in their pure elemental form in nature. C) Alkali metals are only found in ores, and Alkaline earth metals are found in the Earth's core. This is due to their scarcity. D) Alkali metals are primarily found in gaseous form, while Alkaline earth metals are found in solid mineral deposits.

Answer 1

A) Alkali metals are found in compounds, and Alkaline earth metals are found as pure elements. This is due to their reactivity.

Alkali metals, such as lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium, are highly reactive elements that readily react with other elements or compounds. As a result, they are not found in their pure elemental form in nature. Instead, alkali metals are commonly found in various compounds. For example, lithium is often found in minerals such as spodumene and petalite, while sodium is commonly found in salt deposits. Potassium can be found in minerals like sylvite and carnallite.

On the other hand, alkaline earth metals, including beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium, are also reactive but less so than alkali metals. They have a tendency to form compounds but can be found as pure elements in nature. Alkaline earth metals are typically found in solid mineral deposits or ores. For instance, magnesium is commonly found in minerals like magnesite and dolomite, while calcium can be found in limestone and gypsum.

The reason for the difference in how alkali metals and alkaline earth metals are found in nature lies in their reactivity. Alkali metals have a single valence electron that they readily donate to other elements during chemical reactions. This high reactivity makes them more likely to form compounds rather than exist as pure elements. On the other hand, alkaline earth metals have two valence electrons that they can donate or share during chemical reactions. While they are still reactive, their reactivity is lower compared to alkali metals. This allows alkaline earth metals to exist as pure elements in certain conditions.

In summary, alkali metals are primarily found in compounds due to their high reactivity and tendency to donate their single valence electron. Alkaline earth metals, although still reactive, can be found as pure elements in nature due to their lower reactivity and ability to donate or share their two valence electrons.

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