Which statement correctly describes Group 2 alkaline earth metals?

• A. They form 1+ cations
• B. They are nonmetals
• C. They are alkali metals
• D. They have 2 valence electrons

Answer: (D)

Group 2 alkaline earth metals have two electrons in their outermost shell, an ns^2 configuration. Those two valence electrons are the ones they typically lose to form a 2+ ion, which is why their chemistry is set by this two-electron outer layer and why they behave as reactive metals in a pattern across the group. So saying they have 2 valence electrons is the accurate description. The other ideas don’t fit: they do not form 1+ cations, they are metals rather than nonmetals, and they are not alkali metals (that group is on the far left).