Group 2, the alkaline earth metals Flashcards
Describe and explain the general trend in atomic radius down the group 2 metals
Atomic radius increases down the group
More shells of electrons (stronger nuclear charge but more shielding ‘cancels out’)
Describe and explain the general trend in melting points down the group 2 metals
Melting points decrease down the group
Increased nuclear charge, but more shielding so weakened nuclear attraction between outer electrons and nucleus
Describe and explain the general trend in first ionisation energies down the group 2 metals
Decreases as you go down the group
Increased nuclear charge but more shielding (larger atom), so overall weaker attraction between the positively charged nucleus and negative outer electrons
Therefore easier to remove
How does the reactivity of group 2 metals change down the group?
Reactivity increases down the group
A student wants to test the reaction rate of Mg with an acid. What should they do to the Mg ribbon first, and why?
Clean it with sandpaper to remove oxide layer
Outer Mg will react with oxygen to form MgO
This will also react, but at a different rate, and so give a different result
Mg reacts with steam to give what products?
MgO (magnesium oxide) and H2 gas
Mg reacts with steam to give what products?
MgO + H2 gas
Give 2 differences between the reaction of Mg with water vs Mg with steam
Water reaction gives Mg(OH)2 and steam reaction gives MgO
Water reaction is far slower
Water reactions doesn’t give a flame
What would someone observe with the reaction between a group 2 element and cold water?
Fizzing
Metal dissolving
Solution heating up
The effects increase down the group
With Ca, formation of white ppt
Ti cannot be extracted using carbon. Why is this?
TiC (titanium carbide) formed instead
Describe how you would extract titanium
TiO2 (s) converted to TiCl4 (l) at 900C
TiCl4 purified by fractional distillation in an Ar atmosphere
Ti extracted by Mg in an Ar atmosphere at 500C
Give a reaction to show the extraction of Ti by Mg
TiCl4 + 2Mg –> Ti + 2MgCl2
Give 2 reasons why Ti is expensive
Expensive cost of Mg
Batch process - slower, requires more energy, energy lost when reactor cooled after stopping
Use of Ar and need to remove moisture
High temperatures required in both steps
Why is TiO2 converted to TiCl4?
It can purified by fractional distillation
- TiCl4 molecular so (l) at room temp., TiO2 (s) as molecular
State the general trend in Group 2 hydroxide solubilities down the group
Generally become more soluble down the group
