Alkaline-earth Metal Definition

ălkə-lĭn-ûrth, -līn-

noun

Any of a group of metallic elements, especially calcium, strontium, magnesium, and barium, but generally including beryllium and radium.

American Heritage

Any of the six highly reactive chemical elements in group IIA of the periodic table including, in order of increasing reactivity, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium: an oxide of any of these metals is called an alkaline earth.

Webster's New World

(inorganic chemistry) Any of the elements of group II of the periodic table; they are low-density metals that react readily with water to form strongly basic hydroxides, and with many acids to form salts.

Wiktionary

Synonyms: