Alkaline earth metal

Okay kiddo, so you know about elements, right? And how they make up everything around us, from the air we breathe to the toys you play with.

Well, alkaline earth metals are a special type of element. They belong to a group of elements that have similar properties, which means they act in similar ways when they interact with other elements.

The alkaline earth metals are called that because they are metals and they tend to react with things that are "alkaline" or basic, like baking soda or soap. They are also called "earth metals" because they are found in the earth's crust.

There are six different alkaline earth metals, each with their own properties and uses. They are beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium.

Beryllium is very light and strong, so it's often used in things like airplanes and satellites. Magnesium is also light and strong, but it's also very flammable, so it's used in things like flashlights and fireworks.

Calcium is probably the one you've heard of the most. It's the stuff that makes your bones strong and helps your muscles work. You get it from eating things like milk and cheese. Strontium and barium are used in things like fireworks to make them different colors.

Finally, there's radium. It's very, very rare and also very, very dangerous. It gives off a type of radiation that can make people sick. Because of this, it's not really used for anything.

So that's alkaline earth metals in a nutshell, kiddo. They're a type of element that have similar properties, and there are six different types that are used in all sorts of things, from airplanes to bones!