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THEORY NOTES ON S-BLOCK ELEMENTS-1 9

(x) It has the tendency to form covalent compounds: The polarisation effect of Be2+ ion is high due to its high
charge density. The large distortion of electron cloud of the anion brings covalent character. Be has high value of
electronegativity (1.5) and when it reacts with another element, the electronegativity difference is not so large and
the bond is, therefore, covalent.
(xi) It does not react directly wih hydrogen: Beryllium hydride can, however, be formed by reducing BeCl2
with LiAlH4. Beryllium hydride is a covalent compound. It is polymeric solid, (BeH2)n. It contain hydrogen
bridges between beryllium atoms.
The hydrides of Ca, Sr and Ba are largely ionic due to greater electropositive character.
(xii) It dissolves in alkalies with evolution of hydrogen:
Be + 2NaOH + 2H2O Na 2 BeO 2 .2H 2 O + H2
Sodium beryllate
Other alkaline earth metal donot react with alkalies.
(xiii) It does not liberate hydrogen from acids readily: This is due to the fact that Be has lowest oxidation
potential amongst alkaline earth metals.
(xiv) Its oxide is amphoteric in nature: Be is thus weak electropositive in nature.
BeO + H2SO4 BeSO4 + H2O
BeO + 2NaOH Na2BeO2 + H2O
The oxide is sparingly soluble in water as it has high degree of covalency. It has high melting point (approx.
2500oC).
The oxides of other alkaline earth metals are basic, soluble and ionic in nature. The basic nature increses in
moving down the group.
(xv) Its hydroxide is amphoteric in nature: Be is thus weak electropositive in nature.
Be(OH)2 + 2HCl BeCl2 + 2H2O
Be(OH)2 + 2NaOH Na2BeO2 + 2H2O
The hydroxide is insoluble in water. It is covalent in nature. The hydroxides of other alkaline earth metals are
basic, ionic and their solubility increases on moving from Mg(OH)2 to Be(OH)2.
(xvi) Its carbide (Be2C) on hydrolysis evolve methane:
Be2C + 4H2O 2Be(OH)2 + CH4
The carbides of other alkaline earth metals (MC2) evolve acetylene on hydrolysis.
(xvii) Its carbonate (BeCO3) is not stable towards heat: The instability is due to strong polarising effect of
small Be2+ ion on the large CO32- ion

(xviii) Its nitride (Be3N2) is volatile: Be3N2 is covalent, while nitrides of other alkaline earth metals are ionic
crystalline compounds.
(xix) Its sulphate is soluble in water: it is due to high degree of solvation of small Be2+ ions.
(xx) BeCl2 is a covalent compound: It does not conduct electricity in fused state. It is soluble in organic (like
Pyridine) solvents and acts as a Lewis acid.

The chlorides of other alkaline earth metals are ionic and good conductors of electricity in fused state and in
solutions.
(xxi) It is rendered passive by concentrated nitric acid: Nitric acid is an oxidising agent. It forms unreactive
thin layer of oxide on its surface and makes the metal passive.
(xxii) Its compounds do not impart any colour to flame: Very high energy is required to excite electron from
lowest energy shell.
(xxiii) Its salts can never have more than four molecules of water of crystallisation: as it has only four
available orbitals in its valency shell.
Other alkaline earth metals can extend their coordination number to 6 by using d-orbitals.
(xxiv) It has strong tendency to form complex compounds: Beryllium ion, on account of its small size, forms
stable complexes, such as [BeF3]- or [BeF4]2-. It forms many chelate like complexes specially with oxygen
donors.
Calcium Sulphate: It occurs as anhydrite CaSO4 and as the dihydrate CaSO4. 2H2O, gypsum, alabaster or
satin-spar.
Properties:
(i) Gypsum (CaSO4. 2H2O) 2CaSO4. H2O (Plaster of pairs)

Dead burnt.CaSO4. (anhydrous)


(ii) Solubility of CaSO4 at first increases upto a certain point and then decreases with rise of temperature.
(iii) Plaster pairs is used in would making due to its porous body.

ANOMALOUS BEHAVIOUR OF LITHIUM:-

Lithium ion on account of its small size exerts the greatest polarizing effect out of all the alkali metal ions
on a negative ion. Consequently, covalent character is developed. Li has the highest ionisation energy
and electronegativity as compared to other alkali metals.
Lithium differs from alkali metals in the following respects:
(i) It is more harder and lighter than other alkali metals.
(ii) It is not affected by air easily and does not lose its lustre even on melting .
(iii) It reacts slowly with water to liberate hydrogen.
(iv) It does not react with oxygen below 00C.
(v) Lithium is the only alkali metal which metal which directly reacts with nitrogen to form Li3N.
(vi) Lithium hydroxide decomposes at red heat to form Li2O. Hydroxides of other alkali metals donot decompose.
2LiOH Li2O + H2O
(vii) LiHCO3 is known in solution but not in solid state while the bicarbonates of other alkali metals are known in
solid state.
(viii)Li2CO3 is less stable, as it decomposes on heating.
Li2CO3 Li2O + CO2
The other carbonates are stable.
(ix) LiNO3, on heating gives a mixture of NO2 and O2 while nitrates of rest of alkali metals yield only oxygen.
4LiNO3 2Li2O + 4NO2 + O2
2NaNO3 2NaNO2 + O2
(xi) Lithium reacts with bromine very slowly. Other alkali metals react violently.
(xii) Lithium fluoride (LiF), lithium phosphate (Li3PO4), lithium oxalate (Li2C2O4), lithium carbonate (Li2CO3),
etc. are sparingly soluble in water. The corresponding salts of other alkali metals are freely soluble in water.
(xv) LiOH is much weaker base than NaOH or KOH.
(xvi)Lithium reacts the least readily with oxygen, forming the normal oxide. It forms a preoxide only with great
difficulty, and the higher oxides are unstable.
(xvii)Lithium has a greater tendency to form complexes than have the heavier elements, and ammoniated salts
such as [Li(NH3)4]I exist as solids.
(xviii)The first element in a group can form a maximum of four conventional electron pair bonds. This is because
the outer shell of electrons contain only one s orbital and three p orbitals. The subsequent elements can use
orbitals for bonding: they can attain a coordination number of 6, by using one s, three p and two d orbitals. For
this reason the coordination number attained by a complex or a covalent compound of the first element in a group
is commonly 4, and for the subsequent elements the coordination number is commonly 6.

ANOMALOUS BEHAVIOUR OF BERYLLIUM:-


Be differs from the rest of the group for three reasons.
1. It is extremely small and Fajans rules state that small highly charged ions tend to form covalen compounds.
2. Be has comparatively high electronegativity. Thus when berllium reacts with another atom, the difference
limestone in HCl and removing iron and aluminium present, by precipitating with NH3 and then adding
(NH4)2CO3 to the solution.
CaCl2 + (NH4)2CO3 CaCO3 + 2NH4Cl
Properties:
(i) It dissociates above 1000C as follows:
CaCO3 CaO + CO2
(ii) It dissolves in water containing CO2 forming Ca(HCO3)2 but is precipitated from the solution by boiling.
CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 Ca(HCO3)2
Magnesium Carbonate:
It occurs in nature as magnesite, isomorphous with calcite. It is obtained as a white precipitated by
adding sodium bicarbonate to a solution of a magnesium salt; but only basic carbonate, called magnesia
alba, having the approximate composition MgCO3, Mg(OH)2, 3H2O is precipitated.
Properties: Same with CaCO3.

BICARBONATES
Sodium bicarbonates:
Preparation: By absorption of CO2 in Na2CO3 solution.
Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 l 2NaHCO3
> 100C sparingly soluble
Uses: It is used in medicine and as baking powder.
Potassium bicarbonates:
Preparation: Same as NaHCO3
Properties: Same with NaHCO3
But It is more alkaline and more soluble in water compared to NaHCO3.

Magnesium bicarbonate:

Calcium bicarbonate:
MgCO3 + CO2 + H2O Mg(HCO3)2
CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O l Ca(HCO3)2

CHLORIDES

Sodium Chloride: Prepared from brine containing 25% NaCl.


Properties:
(i) It is nonhygroscopic but the presence of MgCl2 in common salt renders it hygroscopic.
(ii) It is used to prepare freezing mixture in laboratory [Ice-common salt mixture is called freezing mixture
and temperature goes down to 23C.]
(iii) For melting ice and snow on road.

Potassium Chloride: It is also occurs in nature as sylvyne (KCl) or carnalite (2KCl, MgCl2, 6H2O)
Uses: It is used as fertiliser.

Magnesium Chloride:
Preparation: By dissolving MgCO3 in dil. HCl
MgCO3 + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2O + CO2
Properties:
(i) It crystallises as hexahydrate. MgCl2. 6H2O
(ii) It is deliquescent solid.
(iii) This hydrate undergoes hydrolysis as follows:
2Na + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2
(ii) Caustication of Na2CO3 (Gossage's method):
Na2CO3 + Ca(OH)2 l 2NaOH + CaCO3
(suspension)
Since the Ksp (CaCO3) < Ksp (Ca(OH)2), the reaction shifts towards right.

Properties:
(i) It is white crystalline, deliquescent, highly corrosive solid.
(ii) It is stable towards heat.
(iii) It's aqueous solution alkaline in nature and soapy in touch.
(iv) FeCl3 + 3NaOH Fe(OH)3 + 3NaCl
NH4Cl + NaOH NaCl + NH3 + H2O
ZnCl2 + 2NaOH Zn(OH)2 + 2NaCl
Zn(OH)2 + 2NaOH Excess Na2ZnO2 + 2H2O [Same with AlCl3, SnCl2, PbCl2]
soluble
(v) Acidic and amphoteric oxides gets dissolved easily e.g.
CO2 + 2NaOH Na2CO3 + H2O
Al2O3 + 2NaOH 2NaAlO2 + H2O
(vi) Aluminium and Zn metal gives H2 from NaOH
2Al + 2NaOH + 2H2O 3H2 + 2NaAlO2
(vii) Several non metals such as P, S, Cl etc. yield a hydride instead of hydrogen.e.g.
4P + 3NaOH + 3H2O PH3 + 3NaH2PO2
Potassium Hydroxide:
Preparation: Electrolysis of KCl aqueous solution.
Properties: Same as NaOH
**(a) It is stronger base compared to NaOH.
(b) Solubility in water is more compared to NaOH.
(c) In alcohol, NaOH is sparingly soluble but KOH is highly soluble.
(d) As a reagent KOH is less frequently used but in absorption of CO2, KOH is preferably used compared
to NaOH. Because KHCO3 formed is soluble whereas NaHCO3 is insoluble and may therefore choke
the tubes of apparatus used.
Magnesium Hydroxide: It occurs in nature as the mineral brucite.
Preparation: It can be prepared by adding caustic soda solution to a solution of Mg-sulphate or chloride
solution.
Mg+2 + 2NaOH Na2SO4 + Mg(OH)2
Properties:
(i) It can be dried at temperature upto 100C only otherwise it breaks into its oxide at higher temperature.
Mg(OH)2 MgO + H2O
(ii) It is slightly soluble in water imparting alkalinity.
(iii) It dissolves in NH4Cl solution
Mg(OH)2 + 2NH4Cl MgCl2 + 2NH4OH
** Thus, Mg(OH)2 is not therefore precipitated from a solution of Mg+2 ions by NH4OH in presence of
excess of NH4Cl.
THEORY NOTES ON S-BLOCK ELEMENTS-1 1

GROUP -I & II
OXIDES
Sodium Oxide (Na2O):
Preparation :
(i) It is obtained by burning sodium at 180C in a limited supply of air or oxygen and distilling off the excess
of sodium in vacuo.
1
2Na + O 180
Na2O
2 2
(ii) By heating sodium peroxide, nitrate or nitrate with sodium.
Na2O2 + 2Na 2Na2O
2NaNO3 + 10Na 6Na2O + N2
2NaNO2 + 6Na 4Na2O + N2

Properties :
(i) It is white amorphous mass.
(ii) It decomposes at 400C into sodium peroxide and sodium
2Na2O 400 C
Na2O2 + 2Na
(iii) It dissolve violently in water, yielding caustic soda.
Na2O + H2O 2NaOH
Sodium Peroxides (Na2O2):
Preparation: It is formed by heating the metal in excess of air or oxygen at 300, which is free from moisture
and CO2.
2Na + O2 Na2O2
Properties:
(i) It is a pale yellow solid, becoming white in air from the formation of a film of NaOH and Na2CO3.
(ii) In cold water (~0C) produces H2O2 but at room temperature produces O2. In ice-cold mineral acids
also produces H2O2.
~ 0C
Na2O2 + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2O2
2Na2O2 + 2H2O 25
C
4NaOH + O2
Na2O2 + H2SO4 ~ 0C
Na2SO4 + H2O2
(iii) It reacts with CO2, giving sodium carbonate and oxygen and hence its use for purifying air in a confined
space e.g. submarine, ill-ventilated room,
2Na2O2 + 2CO2 2Na2CO3 + O2
(iv) It is an oxidising agent and oxidises charcoal, CO, NH3, SO2.
3Na2O2 + 2C 2Na2CO3 + 2Na [deposition of metallic Na]
CO + Na2O2 Na2CO3
SO2 + Na2O2 Na2SO4
2NH3 + 3Na2O2 6NaOH + N2
(v) It contains peroxide ion [OO]2

Uses:
(i) For preparing H2O2, O2
(ii) Oxygenating the air in submarines
(iii) Oxidising agent in the laboratory.

Oxides of Potassium:
K2O, K 2O 2 , K 2O 3 , KO 2 and KO 3

Colours: White White Red Bright Yellow Reddish brown needles

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