Magnesium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium, and Radium

Abstract

Magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium are among the alkaline‐earth metals, found in group IIA of the periodic table. Sir Humphrey Davy first described the electrochemical isolation of barium, magnesium, calcium, and strontium in 1808, and the isolation of a radium salt from waste uranium ore was described by the Curies in 1898. These metals are being presented separately from other metals in this edition. Beryllium, the lightest of the alkaline‐earth metals, is also being handled separately from the alkaline earths covered in this chapter, as beryllium has a number of special immunological and pulmonary toxicology concerns that impact workplace practices and industrial hygiene concerns. Topics covered include chemical and physical properties, production and use, exposure assessments, toxic effects, standards regulations, and guidelines for each matter.