Give the general characteristics of the compounds of alkaline earth metals.

Explanation

The general characteristics of the compounds of alkaline earth metals are as follows:
(i) Oxides and hydroxides : The oxides of alkaline earth metals have orck salt structure except BeO. BeO is covalent in nature. They form hydroxides with water. the solubility, thermal stability and basic character of hydroxides increases with increase of atomic number.
(ii) Salts of oxoacids: The alkaline earth metals form salts of oxoacids. these are given below:
(a) Carbonates : Carbonates of alkaline earth metals are insoluble in water. solubility depends upon the size of atom. it decreases with increases of atomic size.
(b) Sulphates : The sulphates of alkaline earth metals are white solids. in this solubility decreases from `CaSO_(4)` to `BaSO_(4).BeSO_(4) and MgSO_(4)` have high hydration enthalpies. so, these sulphates are soluble in water.