As we know there’s many element in periodic table. The earliest known alkaline earth was line (latin : calx). But right now we’d like to explain about uses of alkaline earth metal in daily life, which is beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium and radium are inside that group. Similar with alkali metals, alkaline earth metal also have the properties of base, as opposed to an acid. They will show their glow with characteristic colors when heated.
Another similarities between alkaline earth metals and alkali metals are fact four of them : magnesium, calcium, strontium, dan barium (alkaline earth metal) with sodium and potassium (alkali metal) identified in the first decade of nineteenth century by english chemist Sir Humphry Davy on 1778 to 1829.
Alkaline earth metal has less reactive than alkali metals, but like alkali metals, they are more reactive than other elements. They will make reactivity while react with water. (Chemical Allowed in Organic Food). Because of their high level of reactivity, the alkaline earth metal rarely found in the nature and normally we can found them with other elements in compound form, often as carbonates and sulfates. Meanwhile, here are the uses of Alkaline Earth Metals in daily life.
Alkaline earth metal has some elements and let see them one by one and their function bellow :
- Beryllium
Person who discovered this element is Nicholas Louis Vauquelin on 1797. This chemical element has a symbol “Be” with atomic number 4. Appearance of beryllium is a silvery-grey-white metal. It soft and has a low density. Beryllium can be founded primarily in emeralds and aquamarines which is both are precious stones in the world which that are forms of the beryllium alluminosilicate compound beryl and beryllium is non-magnetic.
Even it has toxic to human, but it has function for the application also in the health-care industry. Everywhere we are, we can found products contained beryllium which is have improvement our life at home, road, office, work and airport. (Harmful Chemical Banned in Europe But Safe in the US). Beryllium has made incredible with it works with appliances and electronics work faster containing materials are needed extensively of the high tech devices and also used by military ti keep our home, city and country abroad safe.
Beside that, beryllium is used as component in aircraft disc brakes, high speed computer, audio component, rocket propellants, navigational system, nuclear weapons, fuel container, mirrors, nuclear reactor neutron reflectors and missile parts.
2. Magnesium
Magnesium or what can we call it : mineral, has important function for our body and health especially muscles, nerves and also blood circulation. In periodic system, it has symbol Mg and atomic number is 12.
Historical
In 1755, Scottish chemist Joseph Black observed magnesia (oxide of magnesium) gave rise to a soluble sulfate, whereas that derived from lime was known to be insoluble. In 1774 Carl Wilhelm Scheele, the swedish chemist who discovered oxygen , found that the mineral called heavy spar or barys (greek : heavy) contained new earth which now known as
In our daily life, many people need magnesium as supplement for their diet or lose weight calorie (it’s good for woman). (Harmful Cleaning Chemicals To Avoid During Pregnancy). If we want to reduce our over-weight, there are many foods which had high fiber that we can found with magnesium’s benefit. Dietary sources of magnesium include seeds, nuts (almonds), whole grains, vegetables (broccoli, squash, green leaves vegetables), legumes. And not only that, but we can found magnesium sources in meats, chocolate and coffee.
Alkaline earth metal in daily life also can we found in magnesium source inside water but for more information, it just can be found with “hard” water which has high mineral content inside.
If we saw some sports athletes prepare their tournament or a game, besides practical preparation they also need magnesium to increase their energy and endurance by drinking high mineral water or medicine (or we can called doping) who their coach or doctor already prepare for them. But using more than standard procedure of magnesium consumption also not good for their stamina.
Athletes need to do consultation with doctor about how much doping they need before match started because it could be dangerous if athletes use more than normal. Not only athletes, people with disease like high blood, osteoporosis, clogged arteries, diabetes, stroke and hereditary heart disease also need magnesium because they have low magnesium in their body.
Magnesium also used in daily life for treating attention deficit – hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, cystic fibrosis, alcoholism, a- long term pain condition called complex regional pain syndrome, asthma, fever, weak boners (osteoporosis), leg cramps at night and during pregnancy, and also preventing hearing loss and cancer.
For living organism, magnesium plays important role in chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants / leaves which captures energy from sunlight and it also used in fertilizers. (13 List of Prohibited and Restricted Cosmetic Ingredients Canada) As a mineral that is important for balance of our body, so we need to remember with give enough magnesium with buy it in the market, mall or department store.
3. Calcium
The process of making limestone and gypsum, Calcium (Ca) is used since ancient time as building material it’s continue until now. Beside it, calcium also used for food, cosmetic in making antacids, toothpaste, chewing gum and vitamins. We can found calcium as important part to living things in leaves, bone, coral, shells, teeth. It works in human body to clotting blood, help muscle contractions and regulation of heart beat.
Calcium as part of alkaline earth metal can be found in calcium supplement (medicine), dairy products, and green vegetables are very recommended for people who has osteoporosis because it has good benefits for our bones which is become brittle and break easily as we reach older ages.
4. Strontium
What’s more uses of Alkaline Earth Metals in daily life? As part of alkaline earth metal, Strontium (Sr) has appearance silvery – white, a shiny metal. It has relatively few commercial uses and pure metal is combined with other metals to form alloys. It also used for producing magnets and zinc.
5. Radium
Radium (Ra) has many function which helpful in aircraft switches, instrument dials, nuclear panels. Application of Radium are prohibited under the law for people who want to use this element as this showed detectable radioactive problems. (12 Chemical That’s Not Allowed in Hogh School – Exposure & Danger). Some people has permission to use this, but not many of us need this. In medical service, they need this for healing effects in many mental disorder.
6. Barrium
Barrium (Ba) has appearance silvery-white metal which is can be found in our environment and can be used by oil and gas industries.
That’s all information of alkaline earth metal which some elements can be found in natural environment, some are prohibited to use for people. Is this article for you about the uses of Alkaline Earth Metals in daily life? Don’t forget to share this knowledge to friends and family.