Alkali metals have a general outermost electronic configuration of
Alkali earth metals have a general outermost electronic configuration of
The +1 ion of the alkali metals has a stable octet configuration of the nearest noble gas as the outermost <em>ns</em> electron is lost.
The +2 ion of the alkaline earth metals has a stable configuration of the nearest noble gas as the two electrons in the outermost <em>ns</em> shell are lost.