The crystalline salts of alkaline earth metals contain more water of crystallisation than the corresponding alkali metals. Explain.

Explanation

In the salts of alkaline earth metals, the metal ions have smaller size and higher charge compared to the corresponding metal ions of the alkali metals of the same period. Thus, the alkaline earth metals have a greater tendency to get hydrated & form crystalline salts compared to the alkali metals. Thus, NaCl is completely anhydrous whereas `MgCl_2` exists `MgCl_2. 6H_2O`.