Simplify the following text for a Grade 14 native English-speaking person.
Original: The alkaline earth metals are silvered colored , soft metals , which react readily with halogens to form ionic salts , and with water , though not as rapidly as the alkali metals , to form strongly alkaline ( basic ) hydroxides .
Simplified: The alkaline earth metals are silver colored , soft metals , which react readily with halogens to form ionic salts , and with water , though not as rapidly as the alkali metals , to form strong alkaline ( basic ) hydroxides .