Reactions of group II elements with water

Recap of previous knowledge

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State the bonding and structure of period 3 oxides.

The electronegative value of oxygen is 3.5 and that of an elements Q is 2.5. Is the oxide of
element Q acidic or basic? Explain.

Reactions of group II elements with water

Reactivity of group II elements with water increases down the group. The solutions formed become
more alkaline because solubility of group II hydroxides increases down the group.
- Beryllium does not react with water at all. This is due to the presence of the impermeable BeO
layer on its surface.
- Magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water. Hot magnesium however reacts with water in the
form of steam to produce hydrogen gas and magnesium oxide.
2Mg(s) + 2H2O(g) 2MgO(s) + H2(g).
Calcium, strontium and barium all react with cold water with increasing vigour as sizes of atoms
increase, to form the alkaline solution and hydrogen. The general equation is:
2M(s) + 2H2O(l) 2M(OH)2(aq) + H2(g).
Where M = Ca, Sr or Ba.
The table below gives a summary of observations made when some group II element react with water.
Element
Observation when it reacts with water
Equation for the reaction
Beryllium (Be)
Be(s) + 2H2O No rxn.
- No observable change
Magnesium (Mg) - White ash
2Mg(s) + 2H2O(g) 2MgO(s) + H2(g).
- Sinks in cold water and fizzes as it
reacts
Calcium (Ca)
- Cloudy solution since Ca(OH)2 is
2Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) 2Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g).
only sparingly soluble in water
- Heat released
Uses of group II compounds

Exercise: Check-up 2 and 3 page 180

- Lime (calcium oxide = CaO) is roasted with clay to make cement. Cement is then used to
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make concrete and mortar for construction.

Marble (a form of calcium carbonate) is use to make building materials such as
expensive tiles
Slake lime (calcium hydroxide = Ca(OH)2) is used to neutralise acidic soils.
Magnesium oxide (MgO) is used as milk of magnesium to neutralise excess stomach acidic.
Magnesium oxide (MgO) is used to line kilns and furnaces due to its high melting point .

Thermal decomposition of group II carbonates and nitrates

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The carbonates of group II elements when heated decompose to their respective oxides and carbon
dioxide given off.
CaCO3(s) CaO(s) + CO2(g).
Exercise: Check-up 4 page 181
The temperature at which the carbonates decompose increases down group II. This is an indication
that the thermal stability of group II carbonates increases down the group.

The nitrates of group II elements when heated decompose to their respective oxides and giving off
toxic brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide together with oxygen.
2Ca(NO3)2(s) 2CaO(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g).
The temperature at which the nitrates decompose increases down group II. This is an indication
that the thermal stability of group II nitrates increases down the group.

Physical properties of group VII elements

Group VII elements are called halogens meaning salt formers. They are diatomic molecules in nature.
All group VII elements are non-metals with an outer electronic configuration of ns2np5. This shows
that group VII elements fall in the p-block of the Periodic Table and each has seven electrons in the
outer shell. Variation of most physical properties down group VII is either due to increase in number of
electron occupying shell or increase in mass.

Definition: A p-block element is an element whose last electron fills the p-subshell.
Variation in melting point (Mpt), boiling point (Bpt), density, metallic radius (r m) first down group VII
is shown on the table below.
Density
Mpt
Bpt
Colour
State at
Element
Symbol
rm
3
/C
/C
25C
/nm in g/cm
Fluorine
1.11
-220
-188
Pale
yellow
F
0.072
gas
Chlorine
1.56
-101
-35
Green/yellow
Cl
0.099
Gas
Bromine
3.12
-7
59
Orange/brown
Br
0.114
liquid
Iodine
I
0.133
3.94
114
184
Grey/black
Solid
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The properties on the table are those of the diatomic molecules in which only a single bond exists
between two atoms of a halogen in a molecule.
All the group VII elements have a simple molecular structure with only weak van der waals forces
existing between their molecules.
Volatility and boiling point are inversely related. The volatility of the group VII elements
decreases while their boiling points increase down the group. This is because the strength of van
der waals forces increases as thr number of electrons in each molecule increases down the group.
The colours of the group VII elements get darker down the group.

Reactions of group VII elements

- Group VII elements are oxidising agents and complete their outer shell by gaining just one
electron to add to the seven in their outer shells during chemical reactions
Cl2 + 2 2ClExercise: Check-up 5 page 182
0
-1
- Reactivity of elements decreases down group VII. This is because down the group, it becomes
difficult to gain an electron into the outer shell as the greater shielding effect and distance from the
nucleus outweigh the attraction of the increasing nuclear charge on the incoming electron.
- The pattern of reactivity of group VII elements down the group follow the trend in electronegativity
of the elements down the group.
Halogen
Fluorine Chlorine Bromine Iodine
Electronegativity
4.0
3.0
2.8
2.5
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Group VII elements exhibit their oxidising properties in their reactions with metals and many nonmetals. In such reactions, the group VII are reduced from zero (0) oxidation number to -1.
Na(s) + Cl2(g) 2NaCl(s).
H2(s) + Cl2(g) 2HCl(g).

Displacement reactions of the halogens

The displacement reactions of halogens with halide ions provides a clear illustration of the trends in
oxidizing properties of the halogens and the trends in reducing properties of the halide ions in aqueous
solution. The more reactive halogen displaces a more reactive halide from solution of it ions.
Definition: A displacement reaction is a reaction in which a more reactive element produces less
reactive element from a solution of its ions.
The table below gives a summary of the displacement reactions of the halogens
Observation when cyclohexane is added
Reaction of halogen with
Observation
to reaction mixture and shaken
halide solution
Cl2(g) + 2Br (aq) 2Cl (aq) + Br2(aq).
Colourless halide solution
Colourless layer above solution turns
Cl2(g) + 2KBr(aq) 2KCl(aq) + Br2(aq).
turns yellowish brown
orange
Cl2(g) + 2I-(aq) 2Cl-(aq) + I2(aq).
Colourless halide solution
Colourless layer above solution turns
Cl2(g) + 2KI(aq) 2KCl(aq) + I2(aq).
turns brown
purple
Br2(g) + 2I (aq) 2Cl (aq) + I2(aq).
Colourless halide solution
Colourless layer above solution turns
Br2(g) + 2KI(aq) 2KBr(aq) + I2(aq).
turns brown
purple
Each colour is due to the dissolved halogen in a given solvent. Chlorine appears very pale green in
cyclohexane. Cyclohexane is necessary because it gives distinct colours of the halogens displaced which
may be difficult to distinguish in solution.

Exercise: Check-up 6 page 184