CONCEPT By far the largest family of elements is the one known as the transition metals, sometimes called transition elements. These occupy the “dip” in the periodic table between the “tall” sets of columns or groups on either side. Consisting of 10 columns and four rows or periods, the transition metals are usually numbered at […]
CONCEPT The six alkaline earth metals—beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium—comprise Group 2 on the periodic table of elements. This puts them beside the alkali metals in Group 1, and as their names suggest, the two families share a number of characteristics, most notably their high reactivity. Also, like the alkali metals, or indeed […]