The alkaline earth metals have similar chemical properties because________?

The correct option is: They have the same number of valence electrons. Alkaline earth metals are the elements in Group 2 of the periodic table. They have similar chemical properties because they have the same number of valence electrons, which is two. The valence electrons of an element are the electrons in the outermost shell of the atom, and they determine the chemical properties of the element. Because alkaline earth metals have two valence electrons, they have similar reactivity and form similar types of chemical bonds. For example, they react with nonmetals to form ionic compounds with a 2+ charge. So, their similar chemical properties are due to the fact that they all have two valence electrons.