Explain the important common features of Group 2 elements

Explanation

(i) Group 2 elements except beryllium are common their oxides and hydroxides are alkaline in nature and Earth.s crust.
(ii) Many alkaline earth metals are used in creating colours and used in fireworks
(iii) Their general electronic configuration is `ns^(2)`
Atomic and ionic radii of alkaline earth metals are smaller than alkali metals, on moving down the group, the radii increases.
(v) These elements exhibit +2 oxidation state in their compounds.
(vi) Alkaline earth metals have higher ionizatoin enthalpy values than alkali metals and the are less electropositive than alkali metals.
(vii) Hydration enthalpies of alkaline earth metals decreases as we go down the group.
(viii) Electronegativity values of alkaline earth metals decrease down the group.
(ix) Alkaline earth metal salts moistened with concentrated hydrochloric acid gave a characteristic coloured flame, when heated on a platinum wire in a flame