Which statement correctly compares an atom of an alkali metal with an atom of the alkaline earth metal next to it on the periodic table?

Alkali metals are in Group 1 and typically lose one electron to form a +1 ion. The alkaline earth metal next to an alkali metal is in Group 2 and typically loses two electrons to form a +2 ion. Both elements are in the same period, so their atoms have the same number of electron shells; the correct comparison is that the alkali metal forms a +1 ion and the alkaline earth metal forms a +2 ion.

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