Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Trends in properties of alkaline earth metals (Group 2) down the group.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• (A) Ionisation energy: Decreases down the group as atomic size increases.
• (B) Electronegativity: Decreases down the group.
• (C) Solubility of hydroxides: Increases down the group. Be(OH)\(_2\) is insoluble, Mg(OH)\(_2\) is sparingly soluble, while Ca(OH)\(_2\), Sr(OH)\(_2\), and Ba(OH)\(_2\) are increasingly soluble. This is due to the decreasing lattice energy and increasing hydration energy down the group.
• (D) Solubility of sulphates: Decreases down the group. BeSO\(_4\) and MgSO\(_4\) are soluble, while CaSO\(_4\), SrSO\(_4\), and BaSO\(_4\) are increasingly insoluble.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Solubility of hydroxides increases down the group, which corresponds to option (C).