Editing Alkaline earth metal (section)

== Applications ==

Beryllium is used mainly in military applications,<ref>{{Cite book | last1 = Petzow | first1 = G. N. | last2 = Aldinger | first2 = F. | last3 = Jönsson | first3 = S. | last4 = Welge | first4 = P. | last5 = Van Kampen | first5 = V. | last6 = Mensing | first6 = T. | last7 = Brüning | first7 = T. | chapter = Beryllium and Beryllium Compounds | doi = 10.1002/14356007.a04_011.pub2 | title = Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry | year = 2005 | isbn = 3527306730 | s2cid = 262306041 }}</ref> but non-military uses exist. In electronics, beryllium is used as a [[p-type semiconductor|p-type]] [[dopant]] in some semiconductors,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/springer_10.1007-3-540-47852-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/springer_10.1007-3-540-47852-3/page/n117 104]|title=High-power diode lasers|author =Diehl, Roland|publisher=Springer|year=2000|isbn=3-540-66693-1}}</ref> and [[beryllium oxide]] is used as a high-strength [[electrical insulator]] and [[heat conductor]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.purdue.edu/uns/html4ever/2005/050927.Solomon.nuclear.html |date=27 September 2005 |title=Purdue engineers create safer, more efficient nuclear fuel, model its performance |publisher=Purdue University |access-date=18 September 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527141643/http://www.purdue.edu/uns/html4ever/2005/050927.Solomon.nuclear.html |archive-date=27 May 2012 }}</ref> Beryllium alloys are used for mechanical parts when stiffness, light weight, and dimensional stability are required over a wide temperature range.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=IpEnvBtSfPQC&pg=PA690|title = Metals handbook|chapter = Beryllium|first = Joseph R.|last = Davis|publisher = ASM International|year = 1998|isbn = 978-0-87170-654-6|pages = [https://archive.org/details/metalshandbook00davi/page/690 690–691]|url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/metalshandbook00davi/page/690}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6fdmMuj0rNEC&pg=PA62|page=62|title=Encyclopedia of materials, parts, and finishes|author =Schwartz, Mel M. |publisher=CRC Press|year=2002|isbn=1-56676-661-3}}</ref> Beryllium-9 is used in small-scale [[neutron source]]s that use the reaction {{nowrap|<sup>9</sup>Be + <sup>4</sup>He (α) → }} {{nowrap|<sup>12</sup>C + <sup>1</sup>n}}, the reaction used by [[James Chadwick]] when he [[Discovery of the neutron|discovered the neutron]]. Its low atomic weight and low neutron absorption cross-section would make beryllium suitable as a [[neutron moderator]], but its high price and the readily available alternatives such as water, [[heavy water]] and [[nuclear graphite]] have limited this to niche applications. In the [[FLiBe]] eutectic used in [[molten salt reactor]]s, beryllium's role as a moderator is more incidental than the desired property leading to its use.

Magnesium has many uses. It offers advantages over other structural materials such as [[aluminium|aluminum]], but magnesium's usage is hindered by its flammability.<ref name="Gray">{{cite book|last=Gray|first=Theodore|author-link=Theodore Gray|title=The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe|year=2009|publisher=Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers|location=New York|isbn=978-1-57912-814-2|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/elementsvisualex0000gray}} {{dead link|date=March 2022}}</ref> Magnesium is often [[Magnesium alloy|alloyed]] with aluminum, zinc and manganese to increase its strength and corrosion resistance.<ref name="BakerM. M. Avedesian1999">{{cite book|last1=Baker|first1=Hugh D. R.|last2=Avedesian|first2=Michael|title=Magnesium and magnesium alloys|year=1999|publisher=Materials Information Society|location=Materials Park, OH|isbn=0-87170-657-1|page=4}}</ref> Magnesium has many other industrial applications, such as its role in the production of [[iron]] and [[steel]],{{explain | reason=what important role? | date=March 2022}} and in the [[Kroll process]] for production of [[titanium]].<ref>{{Cite book | last1 = Amundsen | first1 = K. | last2 = Aune | first2 = T. K. | last3 = Bakke | first3 = P. | last4 = Eklund | first4 = H. R. | last5 = Haagensen | first5 = J. Ö. | last6 = Nicolas | first6 = C. | last7 = Rosenkilde | first7 = C. | last8 = Van Den Bremt | first8 = S. | last9 = Wallevik | first9 = O.
| doi = 10.1002/14356007.a15_559 | chapter = Magnesium | title = Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry | year = 2003 | isbn = 3527306730 }}</ref>

Calcium is used as a [[reducing agent]] in the separation of other metals such as [[uranium]] from ore. It is  a major component of many alloys, especially [[aluminium|aluminum]] and [[copper]] alloys, and is also used to deoxidize alloys. Calcium has roles in the making of [[cheese]], [[Mortar (masonry)|mortars]], and [[cement]].<ref>{{RubberBible86th}}</ref>

Strontium and barium have fewer applications than the lighter alkaline earth metals. [[Strontium carbonate]] is used in the manufacturing of red [[firework]]s.<ref>{{cite journal | doi =10.1016/j.atmosenv.2006.09.019 | title =Recreational atmospheric pollution episodes: Inhalable metalliferous particles from firework displays | year =2007 | last1 =Moreno | first1 =Teresa | last2 =Querol | first2 =Xavier | last3 =Alastuey | first3 =Andrés | last4 =Cruz Minguillón | first4 =Mari | last5 =Pey | first5 =Jorge | last6 =Rodriguez | first6 =Sergio | last7 =Vicente Miró | first7 =José |last8 =Felis | first8 =Carles | last9 =Gibbons | first9 =Wes | journal =Atmospheric Environment | volume =41 |issue =5 | page =913|bibcode = 2007AtmEn..41..913M | hdl =10261/185836 | url =https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/185836/1/Recreational%20atmospheric%20pollution%20episodes%20inhalable%20metalliferous%20particles.pdf | hdl-access =free }}</ref> Pure strontium is used in the study of [[neurotransmitter]] release in neurons.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/2121233a0 |pmid=21090447|title=Strontium as a Substitute for Calcium in the Process of Transmitter Release at the Neuromuscular Junction |year=1966 |last=Miledi |first= R. |journal=Nature |volume=212 |issue=5067 |pages=1233–4 |bibcode = 1966Natur.212.1233M |s2cid=11109902}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Hagler D.J., Jr |author2=Goda Y. |title= Properties of synchronous and asynchronous release during pulse train depression in cultured hippocampal neurons |journal= J. Neurophysiol. |year =2001 |volume =85|pmid=11387379 |issue=6 |pages=2324–34|doi=10.1152/jn.2001.85.6.2324 |s2cid=2907823 }}</ref> Radioactive [[strontium-90]] finds some use in [[Radioisotope thermoelectric generator|RTG]]s,<ref name="NRPA2005">{{citation |title=Assessment of environmental, health and safety consequences of decommissioning radioisotope thermal generators (RTGs) in Northwest Russia |url=http://www.nrpa.no/dav/c600d1d288.pdf |number=StrålevernRapport 2005:4 |year=2005 |publisher=[[Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority]] |location=Østerås |last1=Standring |first1=WJF |last2=Selnæs |first2=ØG |last3=Sneve |first3=M |last4=Finne |first4=IE |last5=Hosseini |first5=A |last6=Amundsen |first6=I |last7=Strand |first7=P |access-date=2019-03-13 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210325/http://www.nrpa.no/dav/c600d1d288.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=OTA94>{{cite web |title=Power Sources for Remote Arctic Applications |date=June 1994 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment |url=http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ota/Ota_1/DATA/1994/9423.PDF |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ota/Ota_1/DATA/1994/9423.PDF |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |id=OTA-BP-ETI-129}}</ref> which utilize its [[decay heat]]. Barium is used in [[vacuum tube]]s as a [[getter]] to remove gases.<ref name="ullman"/> [[Barium sulfate]] has many uses in the [[petroleum]] industry,<ref name="RubberBible84th"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Barium - Element information, properties and uses {{!}} Periodic Table |url=https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/56/barium |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=www.rsc.org}}</ref> and other industries.<ref name="RubberBible84th"/><ref name="ullman"/><ref>{{cite book| page = [https://archive.org/details/medicinalapplica0000jone/page/102 102]| url = https://archive.org/details/medicinalapplica0000jone| url-access = registration| title= Medicinal applications of coordination chemistry|author1=Jones, Chris J.  |author2=Thornback, John | publisher =Royal Society of Chemistry| year = 2007| isbn =978-0-85404-596-9}}</ref>

Radium has many former applications based on its radioactivity, but its use is no longer common because of the adverse health effects and long half-life. Radium was frequently used in [[Radium dial|luminous paint]]s,<ref name="PMC2024184">{{cite journal|title=Radium in the healing arts and in industry: Radiation exposure in the United States|pmc=2024184|year=1954|volume=69|issue=3|pmid=13134440|last1=Terrill|first1=JG Jr.|last2=Ingraham Sc|first2=2nd|last3=Moeller|first3=DW|pages=255–62|journal=Public Health Reports|doi=10.2307/4588736|jstor=4588736}}</ref> although this use was stopped after it sickened workers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radford.edu/~wkovarik/envhist/radium.html |title=Mass Media & Environmental Conflict&nbsp;– Radium Girls |access-date=2009-08-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721113733/http://www.radford.edu/~wkovarik/envhist/radium.html |archive-date=2009-07-21 }}</ref> The [[nuclear quackery]] that alleged health benefits of radium formerly led to its addition to [[drinking water]], [[toothpaste]], and many other products.<ref name="Gray"/> Radium is no longer used even when its radioactive properties are desired because its long half-life makes safe disposal challenging. For example, in [[Brachytherapy#Radiation sources|brachytherapy]], shorter-lived alternatives such as [[iridium-192]] are usually used instead.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3cT2REdXJ98C&pg=PA24 |page=24 |title=Radiation source use and replacement: Abbreviated version |isbn=978-0-309-11014-3 |last1=Committee On Radiation Source Use And Replacement |first1=National Research Council (U.S.) |last2=Nuclear And Radiation Studies Board |first2=National Research Council (U.S.) |date=January 2008 |publisher=National Academies Press |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905164805/https://books.google.com/books?id=3cT2REdXJ98C&pg=PA24 |archive-date=2015-09-05 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bk0go_-FO5QC&pg=PA8 |pages=8 |title=Radiation therapy planning |isbn=978-0-07-005115-7 |last1=Bentel |first1=Gunilla Carleson |year=1996 |publisher=McGraw Hill Professional |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905174312/https://books.google.com/books?id=bk0go_-FO5QC&pg=PA8 |archive-date=2015-09-05 }}</ref>