Group 2 Alkaline Earth Metals

Question 1

What is the trend in reactivity for the group 2 elements down the group?

Answer 1

Reactivity increases as there in an increase in the number of electron shells and therefore the outer electrons are held further away from the central nature nucleus and are hence lost more easily down the group.

Question 2

What are some physical properties of the group 2 elements?

Answer 2

High melting and boiling points
Low density light metals
Form white compounds

(All have similar properties due to having the same number of electrons in their outer shell.)

Question 3

What kind of ions do the group 2 metals produce?

Answer 3

Produce 2+ ions as they have two electrons in their outer shell available to be lost

Successive ionisations occur

Question 4

What kind of agents are group two metals?

Answer 4

Reducing agents (can themselves be oxidised)

Question 5

What happens when a group 2 metal is reacted with oxygen?

Answer 5

Reaction needs to be heated

Vigorous reaction producing an ionic oxide

Question 6

What happens which we react a group 2 metal with water?

Answer 6

For hydroxides and produce hydrogen gas as Product

Question 7

What happens when we react a group 2 metal with dilute acid?

Answer 7

Forms a salt and hydrogen gas

Question 8

What happens when a group 2 oxide reacts with water and what are the properties of the product?

Answer 8

Produces a metal hydroxide

The metal hydroxides would be alkaline and soluble in water as they can release OH- ions

Question 9

What is the trend in solubility for group 2 hydroxides and sulphates down the group?

Answer 9

Hydroxides are more soluble as you go down the group

Sulphates are less soluble as you go down the group

Hydroxides
Are
More

Sulphates
Are
Less (soluble)
As you go 
Down the group

Question 10

What are the uses of group 2 hydroxides oxides and carbonates?

Answer 10

Basic solutions so can neutralise acids

Question 11

What are the uses of magnesium compounds?

Answer 11

Indigestion remedies - neutralise stomach acid ( milk of magnesia)

Titanium extraction

Question 12

What are the uses of Calcium compounds?

Answer 12

Agriculture- neutralise acidic soils

Building materials- limestone and marble

Flue gases- limestone slurry to remove SO2 from power stations

Question 13

What are the uses of barium compounds?

Answer 13

Barium meal- barium sulphate is insoluble and therefore be used in helping visualise X-rays of soft tissues

Test for sulphate ions

By mixing barium sulphate with HCL

Question 14

how is magnesium used for the extraction of titanium from TiCl4?

Answer 14

TiCl4 +2Mg —-> 2MgCl2 + Ti

Reaction conditions:
high temperature
argon atmosphere
magnesium is used to displace the titanium and bond with chlorine forming the metallic crystal Magnesium chloride.

Question 15

what is the equation for producing barium sulphate?

Answer 15

Ba^2+ + SO4^2- —-> BaSO4

Question 16

How can you determine the relative solubilities of the Group 2 sulphates?

Answer 16

Collect equal concentrations of soluble salts. Add an equal volume and same concentration of sulphuric acid to the salts.
compare the relative quantities of precipitates produced.

Question 17

How can you determine the relative solubilities of the Group 2 Hydroxides?

Answer 17

Collect equal concentrations of soluble salts. Add an equal volume and same concentration of NaOH to the salts.
compare the relative quantities of precipitates produced.

Question 18

how is CaO used to remove SO2 from flue gases?

Answer 18

CaO + SO2 —-> CaSO3