NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

Group II Metals

JC1/2010

GROUP II Metals ( Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba )

Group II metals (also called alkaline earth metals) are s-block metals with a characteristic outershell configuration, n s2, since the only electrons in their outermost shell occupy a s orbital. 1st IE / kJ mol-1 900 736 590 548 502 Element

Atomic radius

Proton No.

Ionic radius

Electronic Configuration 1s2 2s2 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 2 1s 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 5s2 [Xe] 6s2 [Rn] 7s2

E /V -1.85 -2.38 -2.87 -2.89 -2.90 More -ve

Be Mg Ca Sr Ba Ra

4 12 20 38 56 88

0.112 0.160 0.197 0.215 0.217 0.220

0.031 0.065 0.199 0.113 0.135 0.140

TREND DOWN THE GROUP

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES of the Metals

ATOMIC and IONIC RADII increase down the Group from Mg to Ba Each succeeding element has one more __________ of electrons. Hence, the outer electrons are further away from the nucleus. MELTING / BOILING POINTS (i) are generally high structure. The metals have Strong electrostatic forces of attraction occurs between the . A lot of energy is required to break these bonds, resulting in high melting points. (ii) decrease down the Group from Mg to Ba . From Mg to Ba, the atoms form M2+ ions and ionic radii attractive force between the electron cloud and the cations. Hence there is Strength of metallic bond . (ii) Gp I < Gp II < TM than that of Group I metals Group II metals have melting points which are o (< 200 C) and lower than for transition elements (> 1000o C) Reason: Group I metals contribute one electron per atom to the delocalized electron cloud, while transition elements can contribute variable electrons to the delocalized electron cloud. GP II metals are good CONDUCTORS OF ELECTRICITY The metals have giant metallic structures. The cations are surrounded by a sea of delocalized mobile electrons. Each element contributes 2 electrons per atom to the sea of delocalized to carry the current. electrons which act as
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NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

Group II Metals

JC1/2010

1st IE decreases down the Group from Mg to Ba outweigh the increase in Increase in _______ __________ . Hence, net attraction of outermost electron . energy required to remove the electron.

II

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES of the Metals and some compounds

Group II metals tend to lose two electrons readily to form M2+ ions, i.e. they are reducing agents. Going down the group from Mg to Ba, IE decreases i.e. electrons are more easily lost. The REACTIVITY of the metal increases. Reducing strength increases down the Group. This can be deduced from the E values, which get more negative down the Group metal becomes more favourable i.e. reducing strength increases. oxidation of

M 2+ + 2e

E is negative.

REACTIONS of the ELEMENTS with O2 and H2O Reaction with Oxygen Reaction with Water All group II metals burn with a All group II metals (except Be) react with water to bright flame to form basic produce oxide/hydroxides and H2 (g), with increasing oxides (except Be). vigour down the Group. Be 2 Be (s) + O2 (g) 2 BeO (s) 2 Mg(s) + O2 (g) 2 MgO (s) No reaction with either cold H2O or steam Reacts very slowly with cold water but vigorously with steam to form magnesium oxide. Mg (s) + H2O (l) MgO (s) + H2 (g) [ MgO is slightly soluble in H2O to give an alkaline soln, pH ~9 ] MgO (s) + H2O (l) Mg(OH)2 (aq) React with cold H2O with increasing vigour down the Group. Ca (s) + 2 H2O (l) Ca(OH)2 (aq) + H2(g) pH ~ 10-13 pH ~ 10-13 Sr (s) + 2 H2O (l) Sr(OH)2 (aq) + H2(g) pH ~ 10-13 Ba (s) + 2 H2O (l) Ba(OH)2 (aq) + H2(g)

Mg

Ca Sr Ba

2 Ca (s) + O2 (g) 2 CaO (s) 2 Sr (s) + O2 (g) 2 SrO (s) 2 Ba (s) + O2 (g) 2 BaO (s) Burns with increasing vigour down the Group.

REACTIONS of the OXIDES with H2O Reaction with water Nature of Oxide Dissolves to form hydroxides BeO is amphoteric Increasing solubility down the Remaining oxides are basic (i.e. react with acids and Group. CO2 etc.) BeO Insoluble in water: High lattice energy makes dissolution difficult. Dissolve only very slightly in water to form Mg(OH)2 (pH ~ 9) MgO(s) + H2O(l) Mg(OH)2 (aq) Amphoteric* reacts with acids and alkalis BeO (s)+ 2 HCl (aq) BeCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) BeO (s) + 2 NaOH (aq) + H2O (l) Na2Be(OH)4 (aq) Basic reacts with acids MgO (s) + 2 HCl (aq) MgCl2 (aq) + H2O (l)

MgO

NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647 CaO SrO BaO These oxides react exothermically with water to form soluble hydroxides (pH ~ 10-13). CaO(s) + H2O (l) Ca(OH)2 (aq) SrO(s) + H2O (l) Sr(OH)2 (aq) BaO(s) + H2O (l) Ba(OH)2 (aq)

Group II Metals

JC1/2010

Basic reacts with acids with increasing vigour down the Group CaO (s) + 2 HCl (aq) CaCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) SrO (s) + 2 HCl (aq) SrCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) BaO (s) + 2 HCl (aq) BaCl2 (aq) + H2O (l)

Thermal Stability of the Group II nitrates General equation: 2 M(NO3)2 (s) 2 MO (s) + 4 NO2 (g) + O2 (g)
Brown

Thermal stability increases down the group from Mg(NO3)2 to Ba(NO3)2.

Thermal Decomposition of Gp II carbonates and hydroxides follow the same trend and explanation as for the NO3-. Mg(OH)2 (s) MgO (s) + H2O (l) Equation: MgCO3 (s) MgO (s) + CO2 (g) Explanation: Thermal stability can be explained in terms of the charge density of the cation and the polarisability of the large anion. The greater the charge density, the greater the polarizing power of the cation. The larger the anion, the more easily the electron cloud is polarized (distorted) This causes the compound to be less stable i.e. it decomposes at a lower temp. The electron cloud of the anion is pulled towards the cation. M2+ Thisoxygenatomiswellon thewaytobecomingan oxideion. Down the Group, Radius of the cation increases but ionic charge remains the same (+2) The charge density of the cation decreases, and the polarizing power also decreases The electron cloud of the NO3- ion becomes less polarized (distorted) i.e. the thermal decomposition becomes more difficult down the Group. e.g. Ba(NO3)2 decomposes at a higher temp than Mg(NO3)2 Summary: Thermal decomposition decreases down Group II due to decreasing Thisendoftheionisonits waytobreakingawayand becomingcarbondioxide.

polarization of the anion (e.g. NO3-, CO3-) by the cation (NOT ATOMS) of increasing size.
Food for thought: How would you expect the thermal stability of the Group I nitrates to compare with that of the Group II nitrates? Explain.
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NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

Group II Metals (SUMMARY)

JC1/2010

I. Physical Properties
Trend:

Atomic / Ionic radius

Explanation:

Trend: Explanation:

Trend: Explanation:

Melting Point

Trend: Explanation:

Trend: Explanation:

Electrical Conductivity

Trend: Explanation:

1st IE

NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

Group II Metals (SUMMARY)

JC1/2010

II. Chemical Properties

Trend:

Explanation:

Reducing Strength

Relationship with E :

Mg
Trend:

Ca, Sr, Ba

Reaction with O2
General Equation:

Trend

Equation

Reaction with water

Reactivity

Nature of oxide

Equation

Reaction of oxide with water

[pH ______ except Mg(OH)2: pH 9]

Reaction With acid:

With CO2:

Trend:

Thermal Stability of Nitrates

Explanation:

NYJC H2 Chemistry 9647

Group II Metals

JC1/2010

Group II Tutorial *Reference to A-Level Chemistry TYS Nov 2000 2009 Edition MCQ Structured and Free Response Section A Pgs 87-88 Section C Pg 89 N 2001/III/13 N 2004/II/4
N 2005/I/15 N 2006/I/15, 16, 17 N 2008/I/15 Section B Pgs 88-89 N 2003/I/34 N 2004/I/34 N 2005/I/35 N 2007/I/34 Section D Pg 90

N 2005/III/5 Or N 2007/III/3(c) N 2008/III/5(b)