Why are alkaline metals and alkaline earth metals so reactive? Shouldn't they be less reactive because their electrons are harder to pull away?

##"I don't think your proposition is true....."##

Metals are electron-rich materials, which commonly form ##M^(+), M^(2+), and M^(3+)## ions.

The in the neutral metal are liable to be oxidized (thereby reducing something), and this is the result of the fact that they are , that is they are electrons that experience the LEAST nuclear charge. And thus metal electrons should be easily oxidized, and indeed they are.

It should thus be relatively facile to form ##M^+##, and ##M^(2+)## from alkali, and alkaline earth metals.