IB chemistry experiment: A practical study of some group II elements (SL/HL)

Aim

To study some of the properties of the elements of group II and their compounds.

Introduction

The s-block of the periodic table contains the most reactive and, in chemical terms, the most typically
metallic elements. All the elements in group I are highly reactive, but those in group II are slightly less so
and show a rather more obvious trend in reactivity.

We will concentrate on the three elements magnesium, calcium and barium. Beryllium will not be
studied because its compounds are extremely toxic and very expensive.

Requirements and materials

safety goggles magnesium oxide

test tubes calcium hydroxide
stopper to fit test tubes barium hydroxide
test tube holders hydrated magnesium chloride
angles glass bend with bung to fit test tube hydrated calcium chloride
beaker ,400 ml hydrated barium chloride
funnel magnesium carbonate
universal indicator solution calcium carbonate
indicator paper barium carbonate
filter paper lime water
splints 0.1 mol dm-3 solutions of:
magnesium ribbon Mg2+ (25g Mg(NO3)2.6H2O or 20g MgCl2.6H2O
magnesium powder per dm-3)
calcium granules Ca2+ (25g Ca(NO3)2.6H2O or 10g anhydrous
magnesium oxide CaCl2)
calcium hydroxide Ba2+ (25g Ba(NO3)2.6H2O or 25g BaCl2.2H2O
barium hydroxide per dm-3)
hydrated magnesium chloride 1.0 mol dm-3 solutions of:
hydrated calcium chloride OH- (40g NaOH per dm-3)
hydrated barium chloride CO32+ (100g anhydrous Na2CO3 per dm-3)
magnesium carbonate SO42+ (300g Na2SO4.10H2O per dm-3)

SAFETY

Eye protection must be worn throughout this practical.

Barium and its compounds are poisonous. Handle with care and wash your hands
afterwards.
Calcium and magnesium are flammable.
Calcium, hydrated calcium chloride and solutions of hydroxides are irritants.
Hydrogen chloride gas is toxic.

Procedure

Experiment 1: Reactions of the elements with water

Put a very small piece of calcium metal into a large beaker of cold water. Identify the products.
Repeat using a small piece of clean magnesium ribbon.
Experiment 2: Acid-base character

Place a very small quantity (about 0.01g) of magnesium oxide, calcium hydroxide and barium hydroxide
in three separate test tubes.
Add 10 cm3 distilled water to each tube, stopper the tube and shake.
Add 2 drops of universal indicator solution to each tube and mix.

Experiment 3: Hydrolysis of the chlorides

Ionic chlorides dissolve in water forming simple hydrated ions. Many covalent and partly covalent
chlorides, however, are hydrolysed, giving hydrogen chloride and the oxide or hydroxide. For example,
aluminium chloride reacts vigorously with water as follows:

AlCl3 + 3H2O Al(OH)3 + 3HCl

The extent of the hydrolysis of the group II chlorides can be estimated by heating the hydrated chloride
and testing for hydrogen chloride gas.

Working in a fume cupboard, strongly heat about 1 cm depth of the hydrated chlorides of magnesium,
calcium and barium in separate, dry, hard test tubes. Test for the evolution of hydrogen chloride.

Experiment 4: Thermal stability of carbonates.

Strongly heat about 1 cm depth of each of the dry carbonates of magnesium, calcium and barium
separately in the apparatus shown below. Continue heating strongly for several minutes.

Remember to remove the tube from the lime water as soon as heating is stopped.

Experiment 5: Solubility of some compounds of group II elements

To investigate the solubility of Group II compounds, solutions containing the appropriate anions and
cations are mixed. Deduce the solubility.

Put 2 cm3 of a 0.1 mol dm-3 solution of each of the Group II cations under investigation (Mg2+, Ca2+, Ba2+)
in separate test tubes. Add an equal volume of a 1.0 mol dm-3 solution of hydroxide ions and mix.
Remember, do not put your thumb over the test tube when mixing. Compare precipitates.
Repeat the experiment twice, using first a 1.0 mol dm-3 solution of sulphate ions and then a 1.0 mol dm-3
solution of carbonate ions, instead of the hydroxide ions.