utc i don't understand your question do you mean that you have a homework assignment that says describe the development of alkaline earth metals or something like that if so the answer is it depends what you mean by 'development' aug utc magnesium magnesium will react with hot water liberating hydrogen i have done it the preceding unsigned comment was added by talk contribs did you do it at atm at atm magnesium metal only reacts with steam hot water vapor from boiling the preceding unsigned comment was added by talk contribs i like eggs preceding unsigned comment added by uses for the family group ok i am doing some homework need to know some uses for alkaline earth metals i already have a few like glass si but i really do not have enough for the project in other words help the preceding unsigned comment was added by chemistry lab question why does the metallic character of the alkaline earth metals increase as you go down the group physical chemical properties beryllium important reactions compounds the content of this article is good in my opinion in to order to complement the existing information i thought it would be a good idea to add some information talking about the physical and chemical properties of these elements i found it was also important to talk about beryllium since as i mentioned in my text was special finally i decided to add some important reactions and compounds in order to understand in depth the alkaline earth metals preceding unsigned comment added by talk contribs