Group 2A Oxide formation
Be, Mg, Ca ®
MO (oxide; O2-)
Sr,
Ba ® MO2 (peroxide; O22-)
BeO is an insoluble amphoteric oxide.
All the other 2A oxides are basic and react with water as
follows:
Mg, Ca MO
+ H2O ® M(OH)2
Sr, Ba MO2 + 2H2O ® M(OH)2 + H2O2
The basicity of these oxides
lead to their description as alkaline earth metals.