How did the alkaline earth metal get their name?

Answer 1

1. Their oxides are base (alkaline) forming with water.

2. The high amounts of the most common elements in this group, Mg and Ca, are found in rocky earth crust and sediments. (Eg. slack lime Ca(OH)2, carbonate rocks, magnesite).

Another explanation of 'earth' is this:

3. These oxides melt at such high temperature that they remain solids ("earths") in fires (Eg. burned lime CaO).

Added:

The alkaline earth metals are a series of elements comprising Group 2 (IUPAC style) (Group IIA) of the Periodic Table:

beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) and radium (Ra).

Answer 2

1. Their oxides are base (alkaline) forming with water.

2. The high amounts of the most common elements in this group, Mg and Ca, are found in rocky earth crust and sediments. (Eg. slack lime Ca(OH)2, carbonate rocks, magnesite).

Another explanation of 'earth' is this:

3. These oxides melt at such high temperature that they remain solids ("earths") in fires (Eg. burned lime CaO).

Added:

The alkaline earth metals are a series of elements comprising Group 2 (IUPAC style) (Group IIA) of the Periodic Table:

beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) and radium (Ra).