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2. Group II Elements

2.1: Variations in properties of the elements


metal atomic
number
atomic
radius
pm
ionic
radius
M
2+
pm
m.p
C
b.p
C
ionisation
energy
kJ mol
-1


Density
kJ mol
-1


Be
Mg
Ca
Sr
Ba
Ra

Use your data book to complete the table above

Atomic and ionic radii increase down the group because an extra shell of electrons is added. For each
element the M
2+
ion is smaller than the atom. This is because of the loss of the outer shell electrons. The
tendency to react and form ions increases down the group.

The first and second ionisation energies decrease as the group is descended. Atoms change in 2 ways down
a group:

1. the charge on the nucleus increases
2. the number of inner full shells increases

However, as the group is descended the outer electrons get further and further away from the effective
nuclear charge(as atomic size incs.) and the shielding effect increases(inc. in no. of shells), so electrons are
less strongly held, and hence, ionisation energy decreases.

The atoms in the elements are held together by metallic bonding. A metallic bond is the electrostatic force
of attraction between metal ions and the delocalised electrons between them. In metallic bonding, the
delocalised electrons are relatively non-directional and the cations tend to be close packed with them. This
allows layers of metal ions to shift their position in the metal lattice without the bonds breaking (enables
malleability and ductility).

Bonding and structure should not be confused; bonding is about the different types of attractive forces
between particles and structure refers to the arrangement of particles.


2.2: Reaction of the elements with oxygen, water and dilute acids

1. Reactions with oxygen

All of the elements tarnish in air to form a coating of the oxide. The reaction is rapid with elements high
atomic number.
When heated in air or oxygen they burn vigorously to produce white ionic oxides.

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In air, Be metal is coated with an inert layer of oxide. This layer of oxide prevents further reaction unless
the metal is heated to a high temperature.

When heated, Mg burns with a bright white flame, hence the use of Mg powder as an ingredient in flares
and fireworks.
2Mg(s) + O
2
(g) 2MgO (s)

Calcium burns brightly in air, with a brilliant red flame:
2Ca(s) + O
2
(g) 2CaO (s)

Barium burns in excess air or oxygen to form a peroxide, BaO
2 which
contains the peroxide ion, O
2
2-
.
Equation: _______________________________________


2. Reactions with water

All of the metals except beryllium react. With Be an oxide layer forms on its surface and this prevents the
reaction with water. The reactions are not as vigorous as with group I, but, as in group I the rate of reaction
increases down the group.
Magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water. With hot water the reaction is slow, but when hot steam is
passed over heated Mg an exothermic reaction occurs:

Mg(s) + H
2
O (g) MgO (s) + H
2
(g) n.b MgO is formed not Mg (OH)
2


The reaction of Mg with hot water gives:

_____________________________________

Calcium reacts with cold water:
Ca(s) + 2H
2
O (l) Ca (OH)
2
(aq) + H
2
(g)
white ppte.

The reaction of the other metals with cold water increases down the group. They all form alkaline
solutions. The solubility and pH of the hydroxide solutions formed also increase down the group.
e.g. Ca (OH)
2
(aq) with pH 9-11 will be less soluble and less basic than Ba (OH)
2
(aq).

Why does the reactivity of group II increase down the group?
Use ideas about electron loss to explain.

3. Reactions with dilute acids

Group II elements react with dilute acids to release H
2
(g). As with their reactions with water, their
reactivity increases down the group. The reactions are examples of redox reactions. The metal loses
electrons and the H
+
ion gains electrons. In general:

M(s) + 2H
+
(aq) M
2+
(aq) + H
2
(g) where M= Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, or Ra.

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Write the equation for the reaction between Mg and dilute hydrochloric acid:
________________________________________________________________


2.4: Thermal decomposition of nitrates and carbonates

The nitrates and carbonates of group 2 are generally ionic in nature. The difference in properties of these
compounds can be explained in terms of two factors:
the charge on the metal ions
the size of the metal ions

Carbonates

The carbonates decompose as follows:

MCO
3
(s) MO(s) + CO
2
(g) where M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba or Ra.

Lattice Enthalpy of MO(s)

Be decomposes at room temperature (so easily that
it cannot be isolated at r.t)
Mg decomposes readily on heating (540C) 3889
Ca decomposes on strong heating (900C1200C) 3513
Sr decomposes on very strong heating 3310
Ba decomposes on very strong heating (1360C) 3152
Ra


1.
Write the equation for the decomposition of CaCO
3
______________________________________________________________________

2. Complete the table.

Group II carbonates become more stable down the group and this indicates that the larger the metal ion
the more stable the carbonate.
Thermal stability (T.S) increases as atomic no. and atomic size increases. The T.S of the carbonate is
dependent on the carbonate (MCO
3
) lattice compared with the oxide (MO) lattice at the same
temperature. This is due to the fact that as the cation size changes (M
2+
), the lattice enthalpies of the
carbonate and those of the oxides change by different factors. The lattice enthalpies of the carbonates
change little, because the carbonate ion dominates in size. At the same time, the oxide lattice enthalpy
falls faster as the cation size increases and the sum of the radii of the ions increases. This results in T.S
increasing in the order:
BeCO
3
<< MgCO
3
<CaCO
3
<SrCO
3
<<BaCO
3


Another explanation for thermal decomposition is based on the polarising power of the cation. The larger
the metal cation, the lower its ability will be to polarise the anion, because its charge density is lowered.
Hence, salts of large polarisable anions, such as CO
3
2-
, will be most stable with large relatively non-
polarising cations. E.g. with Ba
2+
and not Be
2+
.

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Nitrates

The nitrates of group II (Mg to Ba) are colourless crystalline solids which decompose) on heating to form
the metal oxide, brown nitrogen (IV) oxide, and oxygen:
E.g. 2M (NO
3
)
2
2MO(s) + 4NO
2
(g) + O
2
(g)


Write the equation for the decomposition of

Mg (NO
3
)
2.


The thermal stability of the nitrates increase as ionic radius (M
2+
) increases. They show the same trend in
T.S as the carbonates.

Thermal decomposition becomes increasingly difficult as the cation size increases. In fact, red heat is
required to decompose barium nitrate. The explanations for the trend in thermal stability are the same as
for the thermal decomposition of the carbonates.

Show the trend is thermal decomposition of the nitrates.
Explain the reasons for the trend in terms of
(i) cation size and lattice enthalpy
(ii) ionic radius and polarising power


2.3: Variation in the solubility of the Sulphates

The solubility of the sulphates decrease as atomic number increases. This trend can be explained by the
energy transfer processes which take place during dissolving.



Solubilities of group II sulphates

Ion Cation
radius
pm
Solubility
mol per 100g
water
H
hyd
kJ mol
-1

H
soln
of MSO
4

Be
2+

Mg
2+
65 1.83 x 10
-1
1920 -91.2
Ca
2+
99 4.66x 10
-3
1650 -17.8
Sr
2+
113 7.11 x 10
-5
1480 -8.7
Ba
2+
135 9.43 x 10
-7
1360 +19.4

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The enthalpy of hydration, H
hydration
, of the sulphate ion is the same for all of the group II sulphates so it is
not responsible for the trend in solubility. However, the lattice enthalpy of the group II sulphates become
less exothermic as the atomic number of the metal increases, but the change in H
latt
from MgSO
4
to BaSO
4
is quite small because of the large size of the SO
4
2-
ion. Nevertheless, the H
hyd
of the M
2+
ion from Mg to
Ba is large because of the big difference in ionic radii the very small Mg
2+
and the large Ba
2+
ion. Hence, it is
the H
hyd
of the cation (M
2+
) that determines the solubility trend. i.e. the more exothermic H
hyd
the
greater the likelihood of the MSO
4
dissolving. This means that H
soln
of the sulphate becomes less
exothermic down the group and hence solubility decreases down the group.

2.5: Uses of some compounds of magnesium and calcium

Magnesium oxide

This is a solid with a high m.p of 2800C. It is used as a refractory (heat resistant) ceramic to line furnaces.
E.g. made into bricks to line kilns. It is also used in blast furnaces since it can withstand high temperatures
( 1500 C).
Milk of magnesia which is a suspension containing MgO is used to neutralise stomach acid.

Calcium compounds

Calcium oxide, CaO (quicklime) is used:
in steel making
to refine beet sugar
to improve soil fertility
in the lab to dry ammonia and to remove last traces of water from ethanol

Calcium hydroxide
Ca (OH)
2
(s), as hydrated lime is used:
in agriculture and horticulture to improve soil fertility and to make fungicides
to stabilize soil in the construction industry
to recover ammonia in the Solway process

Ca (OH)
2
(aq), i.e. Ca (OH)
2
suspended in water is used:
to treat sewage and to soften water
with chlorine to bleach paper and cotton
in the manufacture of leather goods

Calcium carbonate
as lump limestone used in:
in blast furnaces to extract iron
as an aggregate in concrete

as ground limestone:
is heated with sodium carbonate and sand to make glass
used as a filler
used in agriculture to improve soil fertility

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