Group 2, The Alkaline Earth Metals

Question 1

Barium meals

Answer 1

Barium sulfate is used in barium meals. Barium sulfate is opaque to x-rays (they won’t pass through it) so barium meals can help to solve problems in the stomach or intestine

Question 2

Extraction of titanium

Answer 2

Magnesium is used in part of the process of extracting titanium from its ore. Titanium(IV) oxide is converted to titanium(IV) chloride by heating it with carbon in a stream of chlorine gas. The titanium(IV) chloride is then purified by fractional distillation and then reduced by magnesium in a very hot furnace

Question 3

Flue gases

Answer 3

The gases emitted from chimneys and industrial exhausts

Question 4

Solubility

Answer 4

The ability for a given substance to dissolve in a solvent. Solubility of the group 2 hydroxides increases down the group and solubility of the group 2 sulfates decreases down the group

Question 5

Sparingly soluble

Answer 5

Compounds which have very low solubilities are described as sparingly soluble. Magnesium hydroxide is sparingly soluble

Question 6

Test for sulfates

Answer 6

Add acidified barium chloride to a solution containing sulfate ions. A white precipitate of barium sulfate is formed

Question 7

Wet scrubbing

Answer 7

A process used to remove acidic sulfur dioxide from flue gases by reacting the gases with an alkali