Topic 4 Inorganic Chemistry & the Periodic Table Flashcards
Appearance of group 2 elements
Pure: bright, silvery solids.
Exposed to air: they form oxides surface layers, so appear dull.
Factors to consider when explaining trends in ionisation energy
Nuclear charge.
The orbital in which the electron exists.
The shielding effect– the repulsion between the filled inner shells & the electron being removed.
Why do first and second ionisation energies decrease down group 2?
As the nuclear charge increases, the force of attraction for the electron being removed also increases. This is outweighed by the combined effect of:
As each quantum shell is added, the energy of the outermost electrons increases.
As the number of filled inner shells increases, their force of repulsion on the electron being removed increases.
Why is there a general increase in reactivity down group 2?
The element becomes a M2+ ion, and 2nd ionisation energy/ the energy needed to remove 2 electrons from each atom of the element decreases down the group.
What must be included in ionisation energy equations after each atom & ion?
The state symbol (g).
What happens when magnesium burns in air?
There is a very bright flame & a formation of white solid.
What happens when calcium, strontium & barium are burnt in air?
The same as magnesium, but more vigorous.
If the metals are fresh samples, it is hard to distinguish between their reactions in air. How can this be overcome?
If the burning metal is placed in a glass jar of oxygen, the same reaction occurs but more vigorously.
What happens to the group 2 element in oxygen without heating?
A slow reaction that forms a surface coating of oxide, which prevents the element from further reaction.
Why is barium stored under oil?
To prevent it reacting with oxygen and water vapour in the air, as it is the most reactive.
General equation for group 2 elements + oxygen:
2M(s) + O2(g) –> 2MO(s) (oxides).
What happens to reactions with chlorine down group 2?
They get more vigorous, but this is harder to see than in oxygen.
General equation for group 2 elements + chlorine (requires heating):
M(s) + Cl2 (g) –> MCl2 (s) (chlorides).
Magnesium + water
Very slow, does not proceed completely; not very vigorous. The piece of magnesium is covered in bubbles of hydrogen gas.
How can the increasing vigour of the reactions of calcium, strontium & barium with water be observed?
Increasing effervescence.
General equation for group 2 elements + water:
M(s) + 2H2O (l) –> M(OH)2 (aq) + H2 (g) (hydrogen gas + hydroxide).
Reaction of calcium + water
Ca (s) + 2H2O (l) –> Ca(OH)2 (s) + H2 (g) Calcium hydroxide is only slightly soluble in water, so the liquid goes cloudy as a precipitate of calcium hydroxide forms.
Reaction of barium + water
Ba (s) + 2H2O (l) –> Ba(OH)2 (aq) + H2 (g) Barium hydroxide is soluble in water, hence (aq).
What happens when magnesium is heated in steam?
It rapidly forms magnesium oxide ( a white solid) + hydrogen gas in a vigorous reaction.
Equation for when magnesium is heated in steam:
Mg (s) + H2O (g) –> MgO (s) + H2 (g)
In the reaction between Mg + steam, why is hydrogen burnt as it leaves the tube?
Safety! To prevent the release of a highly flammable gas into the lab.
Group 2 oxides
Basic oxides: they can react with water to form alkalis.
General equation for a group 2 oxide + water:
MO (s) + H2O (l) –> M(OH)2 (aq) (Hydroxide.) Colourless solution.
This can be simplified to:
O2- + H2O –> 2OH- Colourless solution.
The formation of hydroxide ions = alkaline solution.
How does the solubility of group 2 hydroxides change down the group?
Solubility of group 2 hydroxides increases down the group because the relative decrease in lattice enthalpy is more than the relative decrease in hydration enthalpies.
How does the maximum alkalinity/pH value of group 2 hydroxides in solution change down the group?
pH increases down the group, as solubility increases.
Limewater
A saturated, aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide.
Carbon dioxide + limewater
Carbon dioxide reacts to form an insoluble, white precipitate of calcium carbonate.
CO2 + Ca(OH)2 –> CaCO3 + H2O
What happens as carbon dioxide is bubbled through limewater?
The amount of calcium carbonate precipitate increases.
What is milk of magnesia?
The saturated solution of magnesium hydroxide mixed with extra solid magnesium hydroxide acts as an antacid.
How does milk of magnesia relieve symptoms of indigestion?
It neutralises some of the hydrochloric acid: Mg(OH)2 + 2HCl –> MgCl2 + 2H2O.
Hydroxide ions attack human tissue. How does milk of magnesia not pose a risk to human health?
The very low solubility of magnesium hydroxide means the concentration of OH- ions is also very low.
What can be observed in neutralisation reactions of Group 2 oxides & hydroxides with acids?
Salt + water form. A white solid reacts to form a colourless solution.
Why are the neutralisation reactions of group 2 oxides & hydroxides with acid used in experiments to measure energy changes?
They are exothermic.
Why do farmers control soil acidity?
To obtain a greater yield of crops.
Lime is used to neutralise excess acidity in the soil. What is lime?
Mostly calcium hydroxide obtained from limestone (which is calcium carbonate).
How does lime neutralise excess acidity in the soil? Equation, where HNO3 represents the acid:
Ca(OH)2 + 2HNO3 –> Ca(NO3)2 + 2H2O
All group 2 nitrates & chlorides…
…are soluble!
How does the solubility of group 2 sulfates change down the group?
Sulfate solubility decreases because the relative decrease in lattice enthalpy is less than the relative decrease in hydration enthalpies.
Magnesium sulfate
Soluble.
Calcium sulfate
Slightly soluble.
Strontium sulfate + barium sulfate
Insoluble.
How can we test for sulfate ions in aqueous solution?
Add a solution containing Ba2+ ions (usually barium chloride or barium nitrate). Add dilute nitric acid or dilute hydrochloric acid. Any sulfate ions will react with the added barium ions to form a white precipitate of barium sulfate.
What is the ionic equation for the test for sulfate ions?
Ba2+ (aq) + SO4 2- (aq) –> BaSO4 (s)
Why is dilute hydrochloric or dilute nitric acid added as part of the test for sulfate ions?
Carbonate ions could also react with barium ions to form a white precipitate, so H+ ions must be present to prevent barium carbonate forming.
Why is barium meal not poisonous to humans?
The meal contains barium sulfate, which is insoluble– the ions are not free to move.
What is barium meal used for?
The dense white solids means soft tissues show up better on X-rays.
Why is there no trend in reactivity with water for the group 2 oxides?
They already contain metal ions, not metal atoms.
Basic oxides
Oxides of metals that react with water to form metal hydroxides, and with acids to form salts + water.
Thermal stability
A measure of the extent to which a compound decomposes when heated.
Very thermally stable compounds
Do not decompose at all when heated.
How do group 2 nitrates & carbonates compare with Group 1 chlorides, e.g., NaCl?
Why do the former decompose whilst the latter melt when heated?
- The charge on a group 2 cation is double that of a group 1 cation.
- The ionic radius of a group 2 cation is smaller than that of a group 1 cation in the same period.
- The nitrate NO3 - & carbonate CO3 2- anions are more complex than the Cl- ion.
Why do group 2 nitrates and carbonates decompose when heated?
- The larger, more complex nitrate ion can change into the smaller, more stable nitrite (NO2 -) ion or oxide ion (O2-) by decomposing & releasing oxygen gas and/or nitrogen dioxide gas.
- The larger, more complex carbonate ion (CO3 2-) ion can change into the smaller, more stable oxide ion (O2-) by decomposing & releasing CO2 gas.
- The stabilities of the nitrate & carbonate anions are influenced by the charge & size of the cations present; cations with higher charge density polarise the anions more.
Appearance of group 1 & 2 nitrates & carbonates
White solids.
What happens when group 1 and 2 nitrates are heated?
They decompose to nitrites or oxides, & emit brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide and/or oxygen.
What is also observed when the nitrate contains water of crystallisation?
Steam!
What has occurred if NO brown fumes are observed?
Lesser decomposition: metal nitrate –> metal nitrite + oxygen.
What has occurred if brown fumes are observed?
Greater decomposition: metal nitrate –> metal oxide + nitrogen dioxide + oxygen.
Nitrate(V)
Nitrate
Nitrate(III)
Nitrite
When does greater decomposition occur?
When a cation has a 2+ charge, or when the cation has a 1+ charge & is the smallest group 1 cation.
I.e., All the group 2 nitrates + LiNO3.
What happens when group 1 & 2 carbonates are heated?
They either:
- Do not decompose.
- OR they decompose to an oxide + carbon dioxide gas.
What is observed when group 1 & 2 carbonates are heated?
Nothing. CO2 gas is colourless, and the carbonate & the oxide are both white solids.
Decomposition of group 1 carbonates
Li2CO3 –> Li2O + CO2
Lithium carbonate decomposes at lower temperatures than the other group 1 carbonates. Other group 1 carbonates do not decompose on heating, except at very high temperatures.
Decomposition of group 2 carbonates
All decompose in the same way, but with increasing difficulty down the group.
CaCO3 –> CaO + CO2
What are flame tests used for?
To indicate the presence of some metal cations in groups 1 & 2 of the periodic table.
Safety precautions for a flame test
Goggles, lab coat & light a Bunsen burner in a fume cupboard.
How do you carry out a flame test?
- Add a few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid to the solid using a dropper.
- Mix together, so that the metal compound begins to dissolve.
- Put a platinum or nichrome wire or silica rod in the Bunsen flame, then in conc. HCl then into the mixture to obtain a sample of the compound.
- Hold the end of the wire or rod in the flame, & observe the colour.
Why is hydrochloric acid used to dissolve the metal compound in a flame test?
To convert any metal compound to a chloride. Chlorides are more volatile than other salts, so are more likely to give better results.
2 main problems with flame tests
Many compounds contains small amounts of sodium compounds as impurities, so the intense colour of sodium can mask other colours.
Describing colour with words is subjective; a word description of colour may mean different things to different people. People have different levels of colour vision, too.
Li+ flame test colour
red
Na+ flame test colour
yellow/orange
K+ flame test colour
lilac
Rb+ flame test colour
red (red-purple/violet)
Cs+ flame test colour
blue/violet
Be2+ flame test colour
No colour
Mg2+ flame test colour
No colour
Ca2+ flame test colour
brick red
Sr2+ flame test colour
Crimson red
Ba2+ flame test colour
apple green
Copper compounds flame test colour
blue-green
Ground state
An atom with all its electrons in their lowest possible energy levels.
Excited state
When an electron absorbed energy and moves to a higher energy level.
What causes the colours in flame tests?
Electrons absorb energy and move to a higher energy level– from the ground state to the excited state. This is immediately followed by the return of the electron to its ground state, which releases energy as light. If this energy corresponds to radiation in the visible light spectrum, the characteristic colour appears.
why is there no flame test colour for magnesium?
The electron transition corresponds to a wavelength outside the visible light spectrum (400-700nm).
Ammonium ions do not give a colour in the flame test. What is the test used instead?
Add sodium hydroxide solution, & warm the mixture.
NH4 + + OH- –> NH3 + H2O
The warming results in ammonia being released as gas. This turns damp red litmus paper blue (ammonia is the only common alkaline gas).
Alternative ammonium ion test
Hydrogen chloride gas from concentrated hydrochloric acid reacts with ammonia to form white fumes of ammonium chloride.
NH3 + HCl –> NH4Cl
Why are astatine & radium ignored?
They only exist as radioactive isotopes.
How do boiling and melting point change down group 7?
Boiling & melting temperatures increase down group 7.