alkaline earth

noun

, Chemistry.

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

alkaline earth

noun

1. Also calledalkaline earth metalalkaline 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of alkaline earth¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

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

A silvery, alkaline earth metal called strontium comes in different versions, or isotopes, each with a different atomic mass.

From Scientific American

Liu, Y., Merinov, B. V. & Goddard, W. A. Origin of low sodium capacity in graphite and generally weak substrate binding of Na and Mg among alkali and alkaline earth metals.

From Nature

It is difficult to see what the chemical similarity between helium and alkaline earth metals is, however.

From Scientific American

Optical lattice clocks with alkaline earth atoms provide one of the most stable time-keeping systems.

From Science Magazine