Topic 4 - Inorganic Chemistry and the Periodic Table Flashcards
Name the first 5 elements in group 2.
- Beryllium
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Strontium
- Barium
How does ionisation energy change going down group 2 and why?
• Decreases
BECAUSE:
• Extra shielding from extra inner shells
• Outer electron is further from the nucleus
(NOTE: The increased nuclear charge is overriden by the extra shielding)
In a question asking about how ionisation energy changes going down group 2, what things must you mention?
1) Extra shielding
2) Increased distance from nucleus
3) Increased nuclear charge -> BUT cancelled out by shielding
How does reactivity change going down group 2 and why?
• Increases
BECAUSE:
• It is easier to lose the outer two electrons
• Due to the extra shielding and distance from the nucleus -> Extra nuclear charge is overriden
What 3 important things can group 2 elements react with?
- Water
- Oxygen
- Chlorine
What is formed when group 2 metals react with water?
• Metal hydroxide
• Hydrogen
(Except beryllium)
Give the general equation for group 2 metals reacting with water (where metal = M).
M + H2O -> M(OH)2 + H2
What is an exception to the rule for group 2 metals reating with water?
- Magnesium
- It reacts like the others with water, except very slowly. This means that it can be made to react with steam instead, which produces MgO and H20.
Give the equation for:
1) Mg (s) + H20 (l) ->
2) Mg (s) + H20 (g) ->
1) Mg (s) + 2H20 (l) -> Mg(OH)2 (aq) + H2 (g)
2) Mg (s) + H20 (g) -> MgO (s) + H2(g)
Describe how magnesium reacts with:
1) Water
2) Steam
Water: • Slowly • Produces magnesium hydroxide Steam: • Quickly • Produces magnesium oxide
Explain why magnesium reacts differently with water and steam.
At the high temperatures required to produce steam, any hydroxide would decompose into its oxide, so this is produced instead of the hydroxide.
Describe how each of the group 2 metals reacts with water.
Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba
- Be - Doesn’t react
- Mg - Very slowly
- Ca - Steadily
- Sr - Fairly quickly
- Ba - Rapidly
What is formed when group 2 metals react with oxygen?
Metal oxides
Give the general equation for group 2 metals reacting with oxygen (where metal = M).
2M + O -> 2MO
What is formed when group 2 metals react with chlorine?
Metal chlorides
Describe the appearance of metal chlorides.
White solids
Give the general equation for group 2 metals reacting with chlorine (where metal = M).
M + Cl2 -> MCl2
Give the equations for calcium with:
• Water
• Oxygen
• Chlorine
WATER: Ca (s) + 2H20 (l) -> Ca(OH)2 (aq) + H2 (g) OXYGEN: 2Ca (s) + O2 (g) -> 2CaO (s) CHLORINE: Ca (s) + Cl2 (g) -> CaCl2 (s)
Name the products of group 2 metals reacting with:
• Water
• Oxygen
• Chlorine
WATER: • Metal hydroxide + hydrogen OXYGEN: • Metal oxide CHLORINE: • Metal chloride
What acidity are group 2 metal hydroxides?
Alkaline.
What is formed when group 2 oxides react with water?
Metal hydroxides (except beryllium).
How does the solubility of group 2 metal oxides compare to that of metal hydroxides?
It is similar, since the oxide react to form metal hydroxides.
Which of the group 2 metals is an exception?
Beryllium -> Be and BeO don’t react with water
NOTE: Magnesium is similar, but it reacts very slowly
Describe the strength of the alkaline solution produced as you go down group 2.
The solutions become increasingly alkaline, since the metal hydroxide is more soluble.
What makes metal hydroxide solutions alkaline?
The OH- ions
What happens when group 2 metal oxides react with water?
• Metal hydroxide is formed
• This metal hydroxide dissolves
• Alkaline solution is formed
(Except with beryllium. Magnesium is very slow and hardly soluble.)
What acidity are group 2 metal oxides?
Alkaline.
Give the general equation for group 2 metal oxides reacting with water (where M = metal).
MO (s) + H2O (l) -> M(OH)2 (aq)
Give the general equation for SOLID group 2 metal hydroxides reacting with water (where M = metal).
M(OH)2 (s) + H2O (l) -> M(OH)2 (aq)
What happens when solid group 2 metal hydroxides are added to water?
They dissolve (if they are soluble) to give an alkaline solution.
What is formed when group 2 metal oxides react with dilute acid?
- Salt
* Water
Give the general equation for metal oxides reacting with dilute hydrochloric acid (where M = metal).
MO (s) + 2HCl (aq) -> MCl2 (aq) + H2O (l)
What is formed when group 2 metal hydreoxides react with dilute acid?
- Salt
* Water
Give the general equation for metal hydroxides reacting with dilute hydrochloric acid (where M = metal).
M(OH)2 (s) + 2HCl (aq) -> MCl2 (aq) + 2H2O (l)
Are there solubility trends for group 2 metal compounds?
Yes, but they depends on the compound anion (e.g. OH-).
Describe how the solubility of group 2 metal hydroxides changes going down the group.
It increases.
Describe how the solubility of group 2 metal sulfates changes going down the group.
It decreases.
Which group 2 compound can be used as a reference for all other group 2 compound solubilities?
- Barium sulfate is insoluble.
- It is at the bottom of the group, so metal sulfate solubility must decrease going down the group.
- Metal hydroxides are the opposite of this, so their solubility must increase going down the group.
What’s more soluble, calcium hydroxide or strontium hydroxide?
Strontium hydroxide
What’s more soluble, calcium sulfate or strontium sulfate?
Calcium sulfate
What are compounds with very low solubilities said to be?
Sparingly soluble
What is thermal decomposition?
When a substance breaks down when heated.
What is thermal stability?
The amount of heat required to thermally decompose a substance.
What is a substance with high thermal stability?
A substance that requires a lot of heat to be thermally decomposed.
How does thermal stability of group 1 and 2 compounds decrease going down the group and why?
• It increases
BECAUSE:
• The metal ion polarises the anion, distorting it -> This makes the compound unstable
• Going down the group, the metal ion’s charge density decreases -> Polarising power decreases -> Less distortion of anion -> More thermally stable
How does a cation’s charge density affect the thermal stability of its compound?
High charge density -> High polarising power -> Strong distortion of anion -> Thermally unstable compound
Compare the thermal stability of group 1 and 2 compounds.
• Group 1 compounds are more thermally stable.
BECAUSE:
• The metal ion polarises the anion, distorting it -> This makes the compound unstable
• Group 1 compounds have a lower charge density (1+ instead of 2+) -> Polarising power decreases -> Less distortion of anion -> More thermally stable
What are the general trends for the thermal stability of group 1 and 2 compounds?
- Thermal stability increases down a group
* Group 1 compounds are more thermally stable than group 2 compounds
Describe what happens when you heat group 1 carbonates.
- They are thermally stable so they don’t decompose when heated by a bunsen burner (except Li2CO3, which decomposes to Li2O and CO2)
- They do decompose at much higher temperatures
Describe what happens when you heat group 1 nitrates.
- Decompose to the metal nitrite and oxygen
* Except LiNO3, which decomposes to form Li2O, NO2 and O2.
Describe what happens when you heat group 2 carbonates.
• Decompose to the metal oxide and carbon dioxide
Describe what happens when you heat group 2 nitrates.
• Decompose to the metal oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen.
Give the general equation for the thermal decomposition of group 1 carbonates (where M = metal).
They do not thermally decompose easily, except Li2CO3.
Give the general equation for the thermal decomposition of group 1 nitrates (where M = metal).
2MNO3 (s) -> 2MNO2 (s) + O2 (g)
Give the general equation for the thermal decomposition of group 2 carbonates (where M = metal).
MCO3 (s) -> MO (s) + CO2 (g)
Give the general equation for the thermal decomposition of group 2 nitrates (where M = metal).
2M(NO3)2 (s) -> 2MO (s) + 4NO2 (g) + O2 (g)
Which group 1 or 2 metal is an exception to the thermal decomposition rules and how does it behave?
- Lithium
* Its carbonate and nitrate decompose like group 2 carbonates and nitrates
What are the products of the thermal decomposition of lithium carbonate?
Lithium oxide and carbon dioxide
Remember: This is an exception!
What are the products of the thermal decomposition of lithium nitrate?
Lithium oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen
Remember: This is an exception!
How can you test how easily a nitrate decomposes?
Time how long it takes to produce a certain amount of either:
• Oxygen
• Brown gas (NO2) -> In a fume cupboard
How can you test how easily a carbonate decomposes?
Time how long it takes to produce a certain amount of:
• Carbon dioxide
Name the flame colour of lithium.
Red
Name the flame colour of sodium.
Orange/Yellow
Name the flame colour of potassium.
Lilac
Name the flame colour of rubidium.
Red
Name the flame colour of caesium.
Blue
Name the flame colour of calcium.
Brick red
Name the flame colour of strontium.
Crimson
Name the flame colour of barium.
Green
Name the flame colour of these group 1 metals: • Li • Na • K • Rb • Cs
- Li - Red
- Na - Orange/Yellow
- K - Lilac
- Rb - Red
- Cs - Blue
Name the flame colour of these group 2 metals:
• Ca
• Sr
• Ba
- Ca - Brick red
- Sr - Crimson
- Ba - Green