* Topic 4 - Inorganic chemistry and the periodic table Flashcards
What happens to atomic radius down the groups?
Increases
What happens to melting point of group 2 metals down the group and explain why
The melting point decreases. This is because metallic bonding weakens as atomic size increases. The distance between positive ions and delocalised electrons increases. Therefore, the electrostatic attractive forces between the positive ions and the delocalised electrons weaken.
How does 1st ionisation energies of group 2 metals differ down the group?
- 1st ionisation energy decreases down the group
- Successively further from the nucleus (more electron shells)
- Outer shells become more shielded from the attraction of the nucleus by the repulsive force of inner shell electrons
- Overweighs the increase in nuclear charge
What is the trend in reactivity of group 2 metals down the group?
Reactivity increases down the group
Explain the trend in reactivity of group 2 metals down the group?
- Reactivity increases
- Atomic radii increases
- More shielding
- Nuclear attraction decreases
- Therefore easier to remove outer electrons so cations form more easily
Give the equation and observation of the reaction of magnesium burning in oxygen (and the product)
- 2Mg + O2 -> 2MgO
- Mg burns with a bright white flame
- MgO is a white solid with a high melting point due to its ionic bonding
How is the layer of magnesium oxide cleaned off a magnesium ribbon before a reaction with acid and why is it done?
- It is cleaned off with emery paper
- It is done as an uncleaned Mg ribbon would give a false result because both the Mg and MgO would react but at different rates:
- Mg + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + H2
- MgO + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + H2O
How is the layer of magnesium oxide cleaned off a magnesium ribbon before a reaction with acid and why is it done?
- It is cleaned off with emery paper
- It is done as an uncleaned Mg ribbon would give a false result because both the Mg and MgO would react but at different rates:
- Mg + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + H2
- MgO + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + H2O
Describe the reaction of Magnesium with water
- Reacts in steam to produce magnesium oxide + hydrogen
- Mg burns with a bright white flame
- Mg(s) + H2O(g) -> MgO(s) + H2(g)
How does the reaction of magnesium with steam differ from that of magnesium with warm water?
- Steam produces MgO vs warm water produces Mg(OH)2
- Reaction with warm water is much slower
- Reaction with steam creates a bright white flame vs reaction with warm water creates no flames
What is the trend in reactivity of other group 2 metals with cold water and what do they produce?
- Increasing vigour down the group
- Form metal hydroxides
- Alkaline water due to the hydroxides
What observations could be made when group 2 metals react with cold water?
- Fizzing (more vigorous down the group)
- The metal dissolving (faster down the group)
- The solution heating up (more down the group)
- White precipitate of calcium appearing (less precipitate forms down the group)
Group 2 ionic oxides react with water to form (_)
Hydroxides
Why are the ionic oxides considered basic
Because the oxide ions accept protons to become hydroxide ions in this reaction (acting as a bronsted Lowry base)
In the reaction,
MgO + H2O -> Mg(OH)2
Mg(OH)2 is only slightly soluble therefore … (comment on products)
fewer free OH- ions are produced so lower pH
MgO + 2HCl -> …
MgCl2 +H2O
SrO + 2HCl -> …
SrCl2 +H2O
CaO + H2SO4 -> …
CaSO4 + H2O
2HNO3 +Mg(OH)2 -> …
Mg(NO3)2 +2H2o
2HCl +Mg(OH)2 -> …
MgCl2 +2H2O
How does the solubility of hydroxides change down the group
Group 2 hydroxides become more soluble down the group
How do Group 2 hydroxides appear as products (when not soluble)
All Group 2 hydroxides when not soluble appear as white precipitates
Comment on the solubility of magnesium hydroxide in water
insoluble
Ionic equation for the formation of Mg(OH)2 (s)
Mg2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq) -> Mg(OH)2 (s)
A suspension of magnesium hydroxide in water will appear slightly alkaline (pH 9) so …
some hydroxide ions must therefore have been produced by a very slight dissolving.
State one use of magnesium hydroxide
Medicine, to neutralise excess acid in the stomach and to treat constipation
Demonstrate with an equation how magnesium hydroxide neutralises acid in medicine
Mg(OH)2 + 2HCl -> MgCl2 + 2H2O
Why is it safe to use magnesium hydroxide in medicine and why is it preferred over calcium carbonate
It is safe to use because it so weakly alkaline. It is preferable to using calcium carbonate as it will not produce carbon dioxide gas.
comment on the solubility of calcium hydroxide in water
reasonably soluble
describe a use of calcium hydroxide (in agriculture)
to neutralise acidic soils
what is an aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide called
limewater
Describe the test for carbon dioxide
bubble through limewater - if carbon dioxide is present, limewater will turn cloudy as white calcium carbonate is produced
Ca(OH)2 (aq) + CO2 (g) -> CaCO3 (s) + H2O(l)
Comment on the solubility of barium hydroxide in water
easily dissolve (the hydroxide ions present would make the solution strongly alkaline)
Comment on the solubility of group 2 sulphates down the group
Group 2 sulphates become less soluble down the group
Comment on the solubility of group 2 sulphates down the group
Group 2 sulphates become less soluble down the group
Which Group 2 sulphate is the least soluble
BaSO4
Explain why barium reacts slowly and only partially with sulfuric acid
If Barium metal is reacted with sufuric acid it will only react slowly as the insoluble barium sulfate produced will cover the surface of the metal and act as a barrier to further attack.
Ba+H2SO4BaSO4 +H2
(The same effect will happen to a lesser extent with metals going up the group as the solubility increases.)
What is formed when group 2 metals react with acids such as hydrochloric or nitric acid
form soluble salts
What to group 2 carbonates form when they are decomposed by heating
group 2 oxides + carbon dioxide gas
define thermal decomposition
the use of heat to break down a reactant into more than one product
how does the ease of thermal decomposition vary down the group
the ease decreases down the group
why do group 2 carbonates become more thermally stable down the group
As the cations get bigger they have less of a polarising effect and distort the carbonate ion less. The C-O bond is weakened less so it less easily breaks down
Why do the group 1 carbonates not decompose apart form lithium?
As they only have +1 charges they don’t have a big enough charge density to polarise the carbonate ion. Lithium is the exception because its ion is small enough to have a polarising effect
describe a test that can be carried out to test the ease of thermal decomposition of a carbonate using limewater
heat a known mass of carbonate in a side arm boiling tube and pass the gas produced through lime water. Time for the first permanent cloudiness to appear in the limewater. Repeat for different carbonates using the same moles of carbonate/same volume of limewater/same Bunsen flame and height of tube above flame.
what are the products of thermal decomposition of group 2 nitrates (V)
Group 2 nitrates decompose on heating to produce group 2 oxides, oxygen and nitrogen dioxide gas.
what would be observed during the thermal decomposition of group 2 nitrates
You would observe brown gas evolving (NO2) and the White nitrate solid is seen to melt to a colourless solution and then re-solidify.
how does the ease of thermal decomposition vary down the group of nitrates
ease decreases down the group
explain the change in thermal stability of nitrates
Magnesium nitrate decomposes the easiest because the Mg2+ ion is smallest and has the greater charge density. It causes more polarisation of the nitrate anion and weakens the N―O bond
(same as carbonates)
Apart from lithium, what do Group 1 nitrates decompose to
nitrate (III) salt + oxygen
(Lithium decomposes in the same way as Group 2 nitrates)
Describe the method of a flame test
Use a nichrome wire ( nichrome is an unreactive metal and will not give out any flame colour)
Clean the wire by dipping in concentrated hydrochloric acid and then heating in Bunsen flame
If the sample is not powdered then grind it up.
Dip wire in solid and put in Bunsen flame and observe flame
What is the flame test result (colour) for lithium
scarlet red
What is the flame test result (colour) for sodium
yellow
What is the flame test result (colour) for potassium
Lilac
What is the flame test result (colour) for rubidium
red
What is the flame test result (colour) for caesium
blue
What is the flame test result (colour) for magnesium
no flame colour (energy emitted of a wavelength outside visible spectrum)
What is the flame test result (colour) for calcium
brick red