forming compounds
... that, although it is traditionally classified as a transition metal, in forming compounds the element zinc has similarities to the alkaline earth metals?
... that, although it is traditionally classified as a <a href="./Transition_metal" id="mwA0Y" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Transition metal">transition metal</a>,  in <b id="mwA0c"><a class="mw-redirect" href="./Compounds_of_zinc" id="mwA0g" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Compounds of zinc">forming compounds</a></b> the element <a href="./Zinc" id="mwA0k" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Zinc">zinc</a> has similarities to the <a href="./Alkaline_earth_metal" id="mwA0o" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Alkaline earth metal">alkaline earth metals</a>?