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

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

Because of this charge increase, the atoms of the alkaline earth metals are smaller and have higher first ionization energies than the alkali metals within the same period.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

The higher ionization energy makes the alkaline earth metals less reactive than the alkali metals; however, they are still very reactive elements.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Magnesia: A light and white alkaline earth, which enters into the composition of many rocks, communicating to them a greasy or soapy feeling and a striped texture, with sometimes a greenish color.

From American Woman's Home by Beecher, Catharine Esther