topic 4: inorganic chemistry and the periodic table Flashcards
what happens to the atomic radius down group 2
increases because one goes down the group, the atoms have more shells of electrons making the atom bigger
what happens to the melting point down group 2
down the group the melting points decrease
- the metallic bonding weakens as the atomic size
increases
- the distance between the positive ions and delocalized electrons increases
- therefore the electrostatic attractive forces between the positive ions and the delocalized electrons weaken
what happens to the 1st ionisation energy down group 2
the outermost electrons are held more weakly because they are successively further from the nucleus in additional shells. in addition, the outer shell electrons become more shielded from the attraction of the nucleus by the
repulsive force of inner shell electrons
what happens to the reactivity down group 2 and why
the reactivity increases down the group as the atomic radii increase
- there is more shielding
- the nuclear attraction decreases and it is easier to remove (outer) electrons and so cations form more easily
- first ionisation energy decreases
- there is a increase in repulsion between the filled inner shells and the electrons removed
group 2 + oxygen
the group 2 metals will burn in oxygen. Mg burns with a bright white flame
2Mg + O2 —> 2MgO
MgO is a white solid with a high melting point due to its ionic bonding
group 2 + Cl2
The group 2 metals will react with chlorine
Mg + Cl2 —> MgCl2
Mg + steam
magnesium reacts in steam to produce magnesium oxide and hydrogen. the Mg would burn with a bright white flame
Mg (s) + H2O (g) MgO
Mg + warm water
giving a different magnesium hydroxide product
Mg + 2 H2O Mg(OH)2 + H2
other group 2 + cold water
react with cold water with increasing vigour down the group to form hydroxides
Ca + 2H2O(l) —> Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2 (g)
Sr + 2H2O(l)—> Sr(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
Ba + 2H2O(l) —> Ba(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
reactions of the oxides of group 2 elements with acids
MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) —> MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)
SrO(s) + 2HCl(aq) —> SrCl2(aq) + H2O(l)
CaO(s) + H2SO4(aq) CaSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
reactions of the hydroxides of group 2 elements with acids
2HNO3(aq) + Mg(OH)2(aq) —>Mg(NO3)2(aq) + 2H2O(l)
2HCl(aq) + Mg(OH)2(aq) —>MgCl2(aq) + 2H2O(l)
describe the solubility of group 2 hydroxides
group II hydroxides become more soluble down the group. all Group II hydroxides when not soluble appear as white precipitates
state the solubility of magnesium hydroxide
insoluble in water
describe solubility of calcium hydroxide
reasonably soluble in water
describe the solubility of barium hydroxide
easily dissolve in water
explain the solubility of group 2 sulfates
group 2 sulfates become less soluble down the group
which group 2 sulfate is the least soluble
BaSO4
what is thermal decomposition
the use of heat to break down a reactant into more than one product
thermal decomposition of group 2 carbonates
group 2 carbonates decompose on heating to produce group 2 oxides and carbon dioxide gas
MgCO3(s) —> MgO(s) + CO2(g)
what happens to the group 2 carbonates thermal decomposition down the group
become more thermally stable going 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
what happens to the group 1 carbonates thermal decomposition
group 1 carbonates do not decompose with the exception of 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
Li2CO3(s) —> Li2O(s) + CO2(g)
test for thermal decomposition of carbonates
one is to 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
thermal decomposition of group 2 nitrates
group 2 nitrates decompose on heating to produce group
2 oxides, oxygen and nitrogen dioxide gas. you would observe brown gas evolving (NO2) and the
white nitrate solid is seen to melt to a colourless solution and then re-solidify
2Mg(NO3)2 → 2MgO + 4NO2 + O2
describe the ease if thermal decomposition down the group
decreases
why does magnesium nitrate decompose 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
thermal decomposition of group 1 nitrates
group 1 nitrates, with the exception of lithium nitrate, do not decompose in the same way as group 2 nitrates. they decompose
to give a nitrate (III) salt and oxygen
2NaNO3 → 2NaNO2 + O2
4LiNO3 → 2Li2O + 4NO2 + O2
what is 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 blue roaring Bunsen flame. if the sample is not powdered then grind it up. dip wire in solid and put in blue roaring Bunsen flame and observe flame