Ionic Bonding and s-Block Chemistry- Group 2 Flashcards
Which of the group 2 elements are all radioactive
- Radium
2. Longest lived is 226Ra
What state are group 2 elements in at room temperature and pressure
- Metallic solids
Compare physical properties to group 1 elements
- Higher melting points, boiling points and enthalpy changes of atomisation than group 1
- Indicates stronger metallic bonding in the metal lattices due to presences of two rather than one delocalised electrons per atom
What is the chemistry of group 2 elements dominated by
- +2 oxidation state normally in the form of M2+ ion
What are group 1 compounds stabilised by
- Relatively low values of the first and second ionisation enthalpies of the metals and high values of lattice enthalpies for group 2 salts
Why is berylium exceptional
- It forms a number of covalent compounds
Why group 2 metal needs to be stored under oil
- Barium
Describe how reactive group 2 metals are
- Much less than group 1
- Most have a coating of oxide on their surfaces which makes them less reactive than might be expected
- Still sufficiently reactive that the free metals do not occur naturally
Hows is magnesium prepared and show equations for each step
- Obtained from sea water
- Aqueous calcium hydroxide solution is added to the sea water causing Mg(OH)2 to precipitate
- Mg2+ (aq) + Ca(OH)2 (s) –> Mg(OH)2 (s) + Ca2+ (aq)
- The solid magnesium hydroxide is treated with hydrochloric acid to produce MgCl2 and the metal is liberated from molten MgCl2 using electrolysis
- Mg2+ + 2e- –> Mg (l) reduction at cathode
- 2Cl- –> Cl2 (g) + 2e- oxidation at the anode
How is calcium metal obtained
- From minerals such as limestone CaCO3
- First carbonate is converted into the oxide by heating to 900-1100 degrees
- CaCO3 (s) –> CaO (s) + CO2 (g)
- Calcium metal is obtained from reduction of CaO (quicklime) with aluminium
- 6CaO (s) + 2Al (s) –> 3CaO.Al2O3 (s) + 3Ca (g)
What happens when group 2 metals burn in air
- React with oxygen to give oxides
2. 2M(s) + O2 (g) –> 2MO (s)
What happens in formation of MgO
- Magnesium burns with a bright white flame
2. Some of the nitride Mg3N2 produce alongside MgO
What happens to the reaction of group 2 metals burning in the air as you go down the group
- Becomes more exothermic down the group
2. Barium can ignite in moist air
What else can barium form with excess oxygen
- The peroxide
2. Ba (s) + O2 –> BaO2 (s)
Describe group 2 oxides
- Basic
- With the exception of BeO, they dissolve in water to give alkaline solutions of the hydroxides
- This is a very exothermic reaction for CaO but less so for MgO which only reacts slowly
What happens when Group 2 metals react with water
- Form a hydroxide and liberates Hydrogen gas in the process
- Except beryllium
Show equation for reaction of Ba with H2O
- Ba (s) + 2H2O (l) –> Ba(OH)2 (aq) + H2 (g)
How does the reaction of group 2 metals with water vary down the group
- Reaction becomes more vigorous down the group as with group 1
- Magnesium requires hot water or steam to react
- But calcium will react with cold water
Describe Group 2 hydroxides
- Generally basic in solution
2. Decompose on heating to give oxides
Show the equation for the decomposition of group 2 hydroxide
- M(OH)2 (s) –> MO (s) + H2O (g)
Describe properties of Be(OH)2
- Amphoteric
- Reacts with acids as expected
- Be(OH)2 (s) + 2H3O+ –> Be2+ (aq) + 4H2O (l)
- Also dissolves in excess alkali to form a tetrahedral complex anion
- Be(OH)2 (s) + 2OH- –> [Be(OH)4]2- (aq)
What is produced when group 2 metals react with halogens and show equation for Mg + Cl
- Form the halides
2. Mg (s) + Cl2 (g) –> MgCl2 (s)
Describe group 2 halides
- Most are ionic
2. But BeX2 compounds have polymeric structures with covalent bonds and bridging halides
Compare BeCl2 vs BeH2
- Both structures contain bridging atoms but differ with respect to bonding
- BeH2 is electron deficient, and the Be-H-Be bridges involve 3-centre 2-electron bonding
- BeCl2 is not electron deficient because the bridging chloride donates 3 electrons- 3-centre 4- electron
Why doesn’t MgCl exist
- It is stable with respect to the elements
- Unstable with respect to disproportionation- compound is oxidised and reduced simultaneously
- Very favourable to 2MgCl (s) –> MgCl2 (s) + Mg (s)
What compounds do group 2 metals form with carbons
- Form binary compounds with carbon
2. Called ethynides since they contain C2 2- anion
Show what happens when group 2 ethynides react with water e.g. CaC2 (S)
- React with water to give ethyne
- CaC2 (s) + 2H2O (l) –> Ca(OH)2 (aq) + C2H2 (g)
- Ethyne can be burned to provide light - used for caving + mining etc