Question

Alkaline earth metals are

• A. reducing agent
• B. amphoteric
• C. dehydrating agent
• D. oxidising agent

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Alkaline earth metals are reducing agent. Because
Reducing nature $\propto$ tendency to lose electron $\propto$ electropositive character $\propto$ atomic size
$\propto \frac{1}{\text{ electron in outermost shell }}$
In a period from left to right reducing nature decreases because electropositive nature decreases. Alkaline earth metals are good reducing agent but less than alkali metals.