Period 3 oxides and chlorides

Recap of previous knowledge

-

Explain the variation in first ionisation energy across period 3 from left to right.

Explain the reactions of period 3 elements with oxygen and chlorine

Explain the reactions of sodium and magnesium with water.

Some properties of period 3 oxides

Some properties of period 3 oxides are summarised on the table below.
Oxide
Na2O MgO
Al2O3
SiO2
Relative melting point
high
high
very high very high
Electrical conductivity in molten state good good good
none

P4O10
low
none

SO2, SO3
low
none

The electronegativity of oxygen is 3.5. The greater the difference in the electronegativity of a period 3
elements and oxygen, the more basic its oxide. The smaller the difference in the electronegativity of a
period 3 elements and oxygen, the more acidic its oxide.
The table below gives electronegative values of period 3 elements.
Element
Na
Mg
Al
Si
P
S
Cl
Ar
Electronegativity
0.9
1.2
1.5
1.8
2.1
2.5
3.0
The fact that Al2O3 react with acid and alkaline solutions is an evidence that bonding in Al 2O3 is not
purely ionic or purely covalent. Bonding in Al2O3 is ionic with a degree of covalent character.

Reactions of period 3 chlorides with water

Exercise: Check-up 6 page 171

The way in which chlorides react with water depends on the type of bonding present in the chloride:
Ionic chlorides do not react but simple dissolve in water to give neutral solutions:
NaCl(s) + aq Na+(aq) + Cl(aq) pH = 7
MgCl2(s) + aq Mg2+(aq) + 2Cl(aq) pH = 7
Thus Na+ and Mg2+ ions are simply said to be hydrated in solution. Hydration occurs because of the
attraction between the ions and the polar water molecules.
Aluminium chloride reacts with water to give hydrated aluminium ions and chloride ions. The
hydrated aluminium ions hydrolyses by undergoing deprotonation to form an acidic solution:
AlCl3(s) + 6H2O(l) [Al(H2O)6]3+(aq) + 3Cl(aq).
[Al(H2O)6]3+(aq) [Al(H2O)5(OH)]2+(aq) + H+(aq)
pH = 3
The other covalent chlorides react (hydrolyse) readily in the presence of water at room temperature to
form the oxide or hydroxide and HCl(g). The HCl is formed as white misty fumes, and the observation
of these fumes is a good indication that the chloride is covalent.
SiCl4(l) + 2H2O(l) SiO2(s) + 4HCl(g) pH = 1 2
Exercise: Check-up 7 page 173
PCl3(l)+ 3H2O(l) H3PO3(aq) + 3HCl(aq) pH = 1 2
PCl5(s) + 4H2O(l) H3PO4(aq) + 5HCl(g) pH = 1 - 2
Covalent chlorides thus react with water to give acidic solutions. The acidity is due to dissolved HCl.
Physical properties of group II elements
Group II elements are called alkaline earth metals for the following reasons:
-

Their oxides and hydroxides slightly dissolve in water to form alkaline solutions
They are very abundant in the earth crust

All group II elements have an outer electronic configuration of ns2. This shows that group II elements
fall in the s-block of the Periodic Table and each has two electrons in the outer shell. Variation of most
physical properties down group II is either due to increase in number of electron occupying shell or
increase in mass.
Definition: An s-block element is an element whose last electron fills the s-subshell.
(i)
Atomic size:
The atomic size here is metallic radius since all group II elements are metals. Atomic size
(metallic radius) increases down group II. This is because the number of electron occupying
shells increases down the group.
(ii)
Variation in melting point (Mpt), density, metallic radius (r m) first and second ionisation
energies (I.E) down group II is shown on the table below.

Element

Symbol

Beryllium
Magnesium
Calcium
Strontium
Barium

Be
Mg
Ca
Sr
Ba

rm/n
m
0.122
0.160
0.197
0.215
0.217

Atomic
number
4
12
20
38
56

Mass

Mpt/C

9.0
24.3
40.1
87.6
137

1280
650
838
768
714

Density/
gcm-3
1.85
1.74
1.55
2.6
3.5

1st I.E

2nd I.E

900
736
590
548
502

1760
1450
1150
1060
966

Exercise: Check-up 1 page 177

Reactions of group II elements

Group II elements are reducing agents and tend to lose their two outer electrons during chemical
reactions e.g. Ca Ca2+ + 2
Group II compounds are ionic in nature.
Reactivity of elements increases down group II. This is because down the group, it becomes easier to
remove outer electrons as the greater shielding effect and distance from the nucleus outweigh the
attraction of the increasing nuclear charge.
Reactions of group II elements with oxygen
Beryllium does not react with oxygen because it has an impermeable BeO on its surface.
The rest of the group 2 elements react when heated in oxygen to form oxides. The vigor of the reaction
increases down the group. Barium is stored under oil because it is so reactive. The general equation
for the reaction is;
2M(s) + O2(g) 2MO(s)
The table below gives a summary of observations made when a alkali metal is burned in oxygen or air.
Element
Observation when it reacts with oxygen
Equation for the reaction
or air
Beryllium (Be) - No observable change
Be(s) + O2(g) No rxn
- White solid formed
Magnesium
- Bright white flame if burnt
2Mg(s) + O2(g) 2MgO(s).
(Mg)
- Heat is released
- White solid formed
Calcium (Ca)
- Brick red flame if burnt
2Ca(s) + O2(g) 2CaO(s).
- Heat is released
- White solid formed
Strontium (Sr) - Scarlet/red flame if burnt
2Sr(s) + O2(g) 2SrO(s).
- Heat is released
- White solid formed
Barium (Ba)
- Apple-green flame if burnt
2Ba(s) + O2(g) 2BaO(s).
- Heat is released
If water drips onto the surface of a lump of calcium oxide (CaO), a vigorous reaction occurs releasing
a lot of heat released that even boils some of the water off. Solid calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH) 2(s)) is
formed.
Exercise: Check-up 2 page 180
CaO(s) + H2O(l) Ca(OH)2(s).
In the presence of excess water the Ca(OH) 2(s) dissolves to form an alkaline solution with a pH of about
11 since group II oxides and hydroxides are not very soluble in water.
Ca(OH)2(s) + aq Ca(OH)2(aq).
The ionic equation for the reaction of oxides of group II elements with water is shown below.
O2-(s) + H2O(l) 2OH-(aq).
The flame colours of some group II elements can be used to qualitatively identify them.

Element

Flame colour

Calcium (Ca)
Brick red
Strontium (Sr)
Scarlet/red
Calcium (Ca)
Apple-green
Many metals e.g. Al, Fe, burn with a white flame. Thus flame colour of magnesium cannot be used to
identify it.