ABSTRACT
Trace elements of Group Ia (new group 2) belong to the alkaline earths (Be, Sr, and Ba) and behave similarly to Ca and Mg. The microcations favor coordination with oxygen donors and do not usually form complex ions species. The Sr and Ba cations are more similar to Ca than to Mg, and Sr
in particulars very close in size to Ca
. A characteristic of these cations is the small ionic radius and high charge:radius ratio. These cations can replace each other, while the small size Be prevents their replacement by other ions. The common characteristic of the alkaline earths is their association with the carbon cycle; therefore, the processes of solution of hydrogen carbonates and the precipitation of carbonates strongly control the behavior of these metals in the terrestrial environment. Be in the terrestrial environment is more susceptible to hydrolysis and complexation processes than other elements of this group.
