Which one of the following statements about alkaline • earth metals is NOT true ?

Alkaline earth metals (Group 2) exhibit distinct properties. Strontium salts produce a characteristic crimson-red flame. Barium, specifically as barium sulfate (barium meal), is used in medical X-rays to visualize the alimentary canal because it effectively absorbs X-rays. Magnesium is a vital component of chlorophyll in green plants, essential for trapping solar energy during photosynthesis. However, the red color of the gemstone Ruby is not due to beryllium; it is caused by chromium impurities within the aluminum oxide (corundum) crystal lattice. Beryllium is instead a primary constituent of gemstones like emerald and aquamarine (beryl). While beryllium and magnesium are Group 2 elements, the coloring mechanism in rubies is a transition metal property (chromium) rather than an alkaline earth metal property.