Group 2 Elements

- they are reducing agents

Why does first ionization energy DECREASE DOWN the group?

- atomic radius decreases
- greater distance reduces the pull of the nucleus on outer
electron
- shielding increases

Colours
Li Red
Na Yellow
K Lilac

Mg Colourless
Ca Red
Sr Dark Red
Ba Pale Green

Reaction with OXYGEN

- Product : Metal oxide

Why is Ba stored under oil?

- Ba is the most reactive. Protect them from reacting with
oxygen and water vapour in the air.

Reaction with CHLORINE

- Product : Metal chloride (white solid)

Reaction with WATER

- Product : Metal hydroxides + Hydrogen Gas

Be No reaction. Think insoluble oxide layer on surface.

Mg Cold water : slow reaction
Steam : fast reaction
Ca / Sr / Ba Produces bubbles of hydrogen
(reactivity increases DOWN the group)

OXIDES

Reaction of Oxides with Water

- BeO does NOT react
- MgO reacts slightly
- Product : Hydroxides

→ CaO (quicklime) reacts with COLD WATER.

→ Observation : mixture SWELLS, FIZZING
sound.
→ Product : Ca(OH)2  slaked lime
 Reaction of Oxides with Acid
- BeO does NOT react
- Product : Salts + Water

Special Case!

BeO is AMPHOTERIC. Reacts with both acid and bases

to form salt + water.

SOLUBILITY

Nitrates & Chlorides  SOLUBLE

Carbonates  INSOLUBLE

Hydroxides  INCREASES down the group

Sulfates  DECREASES down the group

When does salt dissolve readily?

- Enthalpy change of hydration must be
GREATER than the lattice enthalpy.

Test for SULFATE IONS

- Add Barium (chloride or nitrate)

to an acidified solution

- White ppt : Barium sulfate

- Add dilute HCl to destroy any

carbonate

Thermal Stability
 stability of a compound when it is heated

 Factors : Size & Charge of cation (polarizing power of cation)

 The smaller a cation, the higher its charge density and thus its polarizing
power. It distorts the anion. This causes it to break up when heated.

Group 2 NITRATES (heat)  metal oxide, NO2, O2

Observation :

1. Solid dissolving in the water of crystallization

2. Solution boiling & water condensing at the top of the test tube
3. Solid reforming as water boils
4. Solid melting
5. Brown gas (NO2) and gas that relights a glowing splint (O2)

Group 2 CARBONATES (heat)  metal oxide + carbon dioxide

Flame Test
1. Add a few drops of conc HCl to the sample on a watch glass
2. Use a CLEAN NICHROME wire and dip into the solution
3. Place in a Bunsen flame
4. Observe the colour of the flame

Why HCl?
- sample converted to chloride because chlorides are more
volatile.

Why nichrome wire?

- inert

What causes the colour in flame test?

- Electrons given energy on heating
- Electrons promoted to a higher energy level
- As the electrons fall back to the original level, light energy is
emitted in the visible range of spectrum