alkaline earth

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. any of the oxides of barium, radium, strontium, calcium, and, sometimes, magnesium.

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alkaline earth British  

noun

1. Also called: alkaline earth metal.   alkaline earth element.  any of the divalent electropositive metals beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium, belonging to group 2A of the periodic table

2. an oxide of one of the alkaline earth metals

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Etymology

Origin of alkaline earth

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

alkaline earth

The only result that popped up pertained to chemistry: specifically, to the periodic table and the atomic numbers of the alkaline earth metals.

From New York Times ● May 21, 2023

In contrast, the alkaline earth metals have a completed s subshell in their outermost shell.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

The driving force for such oxidations is similar to that of alkaline earth metals such as Be or Mg, forming Be2+ and Mg2+.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

The alkaline earth metals occur as silicates and, with the exception of beryllium, as carbonates and sulfates.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

The citrates are a numerous class of salts, the most soluble of which are those of the alkaline metals; the citrates of the alkaline earth metals are insoluble.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 4 "Cincinnatus" to "Cleruchy" by Various