The term earths was historically applied to certain substances that were once thought to be elements, and this name was borrowed from one of the four classical elements of Plato[citation needed] the other three being air, water, and fire. "Earths" were later found to be metallic oxides,[1] and the corresponding metals were classified into the corresponding groups; rare earth metals and alkaline earth metals.[citation needed]
Categories: [Inorganic chemistry]