Alkaline Earth Metals are the elements located in the second period from the left of the periodic table. These elements lose two electrons to form the stable octet when forming an ionic bond, resulting in a net charge of +2. Because they’re trying to get rid of those electrons to get to the stable octet, it’s easy to remove them - this means that the ionization energy of these elements is relatively low. Finally, since they’re looking to get rid of electrons, they certainly aren’t trying to gain any, meaning that their electronegativity is relatively low.
The correct answers are A and D.
Answer: D
Explanation:
A reducing agent is a species that reduces other compounds, and is thereby oxidized. The whole compound becomes the reducing agent. In other words, of a compound is oxidized, then they are the reducing agent. On the other hand, if the compound is reduced, it is an ozidizing agent.
Since we have established that a reducing agent is the compound being oxidized, we know that A is not our answer. An oxidized compound is losing electrons. Choice A states exactly this.
For B, this is true as we have established this already.
C is also correct. Since a reducing agent loses electrons, it becomes more positive. This makes the oxidation number increase.
D would be our correct answer. It is actually a good oxidizing agent is a metal in a high oxidation state, such as Mn⁷⁺.
