Physical Properties of Period III Elements

Na

Mg

Al

Si

P (P4)

S (S8)

Cl (Cl2)

Ar

Atomic radius ___________________ across the Period. Nuclear charge __________________ as no. of protons increases while shielding
Atomic Radius

effect remains constant as extra electron added to the atoms occupies the same principal quantum shell. Effective nuclear charge
_________________.

Na+, Mg2+, Al3+ and Si4+ are isoelectronic ; nuclear

charge _______________________ and shielding effect
_______________________, hence ionic radius decreases.
P3-, S2-, Cl- are isoelectronic; ionic radius
_________________. The anions are larger than

Ionic Radius

their original atoms. They gained extra electrons

Does not form

into their third principal quantum shell. Repulsion

ions

between electrons increases but effective nuclear

charge remain constant.

Prepared by: Sunway College JB (WWKL)

Page 1

All are ____________________________________. Weak van der

giant

Waals forces between molecules, requires less energy to overcome

molecular/

these forces thus low melting point.

covalent

Strength of van der Waals forces depends on size of electron cloud.

Metallic bonding:
structure so
metal cations bonded to ______________________.

S8 > P4> Cl2 >Ar

very high m.p

Greater number of electrons results in molecules becoming more

as extensive

polarizable thus van der Waals forces become stronger.

Strength of metallic bonding

_______________________________ due to the
Melting Point

__________
increase of number of valence electrons that can
__________
delocalise and decreasing size of cations. Melting
__________
point increases.
__________
bonds to be
broken

Prepared by: Sunway College JB (WWKL)

Page 2

All are simple covalent. Cannot conduct electricity due to absence of

mobile charge carriers. Insulators.

Good conductors of electricity. Metal cations bonded

Electrical
Conductivity

to sea of delocalised electrons.

semi-

Conductivity increases from Na to Al due to the

conductor

increase of number of valence electrons that can be

or metalloid

delocalised.

First I.E increases generally across the Period. Positive nuclear charge increases as number of protons increases while shielding effect
remain constant as extra electron added to the atoms occupies the same principal quantum shell. Effective nuclear charge increases.
Exception:
First Ionisation
Energy

Mg and Al
(p electron further from nucleus, effectively shielded by 3s electrons, requires less energy to remove)
P and S
(paired electron in s orbital experiences electron-electron repulsion, require less energy to remove)

Prepared by: Sunway College JB (WWKL)

Page 3

Chemical Properties of Period III Elements

Na

Mg

Al

Si

P (P4)

S (S8)
Reacts gently when

Protected by a tough
heated with a blue
layer of Al2O3 but
Reacts vigorously

Reacts vigorously

Reacts vigorously

flame to form SO2 gas

Reacts slowly to form

when heated with

(colourless).

SiO2 (white)

yellow or white flame

In the presence of

to form P4O10 (white)

V2O5 catalyst, SO2 can

powdered reacts well

when heated with a
Reaction
with oxygen

when heated with a

when heated to about

yellow flame to form

bright white flames to

800C with a bright

Na2O (white)

form MgO (white)

white flames to form

be further oxidized to
Al2O3 (white)
form SO3 gas.

Equations

Reacts vigorously
Reaction
with
chlorine

Reacts slowly with

Reacts vigorously to

Reacts vigorously to

Reacts slowly to form

when heated to form

form MgCl2
NaCl

Form SCl2 and S2Cl2

excess chlorine gas to

form AlCl3

SiCl4

(not in syllabus)
form PCl5
-----

Equations

Prepared by: Sunway College JB (WWKL)

Page 4

Magnesium only
reacts very slowly with
cold water and
Sodium reacts
produce hydrogen
vigorously with cold
gas. Hot magnesium
Reaction
with water

water, melting to a ball

react vigorously with

-----

-----

-----

-----

-----

-----

-----

-----

of molten metal.
steam of water to
make magnesium
oxide and hydrogen
gas.

Equations

Prepared by: Sunway College JB (WWKL)

Page 5

Oxides of Period III Elements

Na2O

MgO

Al2O3

SiO2

P4O10

SO2
SO3

Acid base nature

basic

basic

amphoteric

acidic

acidic

acidic

Melting point/ C

High (1280)

High (2800)

Very high (2045)

Very high (1610)

Low (580)

Low (-75, 17)

Ionic lattice with

Ionic lattice

Giant covalent

Simple covalent structure, exists as discrete molecules

covalent character
Bonding and
structure of
oxides

Across the Period, the bonding in the oxides changes from ionic to covalent. This is due to the increase in electronegativity of the element. As
the difference in electronegativity between the element and oxygen decreases, the compound formed have more covalent character.

Reacts vigorously
Sparingly soluble
Soluble in water to
Reaction with
water

in water to form

and soluble in

React and soluble in water to form

water to form

H2SO3 or H2SO4

Insoluble in water

form NaOH
Mg(OH)2

H3PO4

Equations

2-3 for H2SO3

pH of aqueous
solution
Acid / Base
nature

13

2-3
1 for H2SO4

Basic

Prepared by: Sunway College JB (WWKL)

amphoteric

acidic

Page 6

Reaction with
acid
(Equation)

-----

Requires hot
Requires hot
Reaction with
alkali
(Equation)

concentrated
------

Prepared by: Sunway College JB (WWKL)

concentrated alkali
alkali

Page 7

Chlorides of Period III Elements

Oxidation number
of Period 3
elements
Bonding and
structure of
chloride

NaCl

MgCl2

AlCl3
Al2Cl6

SiCl4

PCl5
(PCl3)

SCl2

+1

+2

+3

+4

+5

+2

Ionic, giant ionic

Dimer, covalent

Simple molecular, covalent

When water is
Do not react with water. The polar water

added, the dimmers

molecules are attracted to the ions and break

are broken down to

down the giant ionic structures. The solutions

aluminium ions and

contain the metal ions and the chloride ions

chloride ions and

SiCl4 and PCl5 are hydrolysed in water to form

white fumes of HCl gas and turn the solution
Reaction with
water

------

acidic.
surrounded by water molecules. The metal

cause the water

ions and the chloride ions are called

molecules to lose a

hydrated ions.

H+ ion which turns

SiO2 is off-white ppt.

the solution acidic

Chlorides react with water, giving off white fumes of hydrogen
Observations

White solids dissolve to form colourless solutions

chlorides

Equations

pH in water

Prepared by: Sunway College JB (WWKL)

6.5

Page 8