AN INTRODUCTION TO

PERIOD 3
COMPOUNDS
A guide for A level students

KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING
 KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING

PERIOD 3 COMPOUNDS
INTRODUCTION
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 PERIOD 3
CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Electronic configuration
• 1st Ionisation Energy
• Chlorides
• Oxides
• Reactions of metals
 ELECTRONIC
CONFIGURATION
 ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION

The Aufbau principle states that… “ELECTRONS ENTER THE LOWEST

AVAILABLE ENERGY LEVEL” . In period 3 the electrons fill the 3s orbital first,
followed by the 3p orbitals. Notice how the electrons in the 3p orbitals remain
unpaired, if possible, according to Hund’s Rule.

1s 2s 2p 3s 3p
Na 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
Mg 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
Al 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p1
Si 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2
P 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3
S 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4
Cl 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5

Ar 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6

1st IONISATION
ENERGY
 FIRST IONISATION ENERGY
TREND

Theoretically, the value should increase steadily across the period

due to the increased nuclear charge. HOWEVER...

There is a DROP in the value for

aluminium because the extra
electron has gone into a 3p orbital. 1500
The increased shielding makes the
electron easier to remove.

1000
There is a DROP in the value for
sulphur. The extra electron has
paired up with one of the electrons 3s 3p
already in one of the 3p orbitals. The 500
repulsive force between the 3s 3p
electrons means that less energy is
required to remove one of them.
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
 CHLORIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
SUMMARY
NaCl MgCl2 AlCl3 SiCl4 PCl5

melting
point / K 1074 987 450 (sub) 203 435 (sub)

bonding ionic ionic covalent covalent covalent

structure giant giant simple simple simple

lattice lattice molecule molecule molecule

solubility in
water very very hydrolysed hydrolysed hydrolysed

solution pH 7 6.5 5 0 0
 CHLORIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PREPARATION
Most can be prepared by DIRECT COMBINATION by passing the gas over
the heated element.
0 0 +2 -1
e.g. Magnesium Mg(s) + Cl2(g) ——> MgCl2(s)

0 0 +3 -1
Aluminium 2Al(s) + 3Cl2(g) ——> 2AlCl3(s)
 CHLORIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PROPERTIES
NaCl • ionic solid

+
Na Cl

• giant ionic lattice

• high melting point – strong electrostatic attraction between ions
• very soluble in water giving a neutral (pH = 7) solution

NaCl(s) ——> Na+(aq) + Cl¯(aq)

 CHLORIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PROPERTIES
MgCl2 • ionic solid

2+
Cl Mg Cl

• giant ionic lattice

• high melting point – strong electrostatic attraction between ions
• soluble in water giving a slightly acidic (pH = 6.5) solution
(due to greater charge density of Mg2+ ions)

MgCl2(s) ——> Mg2+(aq) + Cl¯(aq)

 CHLORIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PROPERTIES
AlCl3 • white solid
• high charge density of Al3+ favours covalency

A LEWIS ACID Cl Al Cl TRIGONAL

PLANAR

Cl

• readily hydrolysed giving an acidic solution (pH = 5).

AlCl3(s) + 6H2O(l) ——> [Al(H2O)6]3+(aq) + 3Cl¯(aq)

 CHLORIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PROPERTIES
SiCl4 • simple covalent molecule
• volatile liquid
Cl
• fumes in moist air

TETRAHEDRAL
Cl Si Cl

Cl

• easily hydrolysed by water producing an acidic solution (pH= 0)

SiCl4(l) + 4H2O(l) ——> SiO2.2H2O(s) + 4HCl(aq)

 CHLORIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PROPERTIES
PCl5 • pale yellow solid
• exists as [PCl4+][PCl6¯] ; unusual for a non-metallic chloride
• hydrolysed by water giving an acidic solution (pH = 0)

PCl5(s) + 4H2O(l) ——> H3PO4(aq) + 5HCl(aq)

 OXIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
SUMMARY
Na2O MgO Al2O3 SO2

Melting
point / K 1548 3125 2345 200

bonding ionic ionic ionic/cov covalent

structure giant giant giant simple

lattice lattice lattice molecule

classification basic basic amphoteric acidic

solubility very sparingly insoluble reacts

in water

solution pH 14 9 3
 OXIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PREPARATION
• metals produce basic oxides

• non-metals produce acidic oxides

• aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide (acidic and basic properties)

• ionic oxides have high melting points

• ionic oxides conduct electricity when molten

• most oxides can be prepared by direct combination (EXC. SO3)

0 0 +2 -2
2Mg(s) + O2(g) ——> 2MgO(s)
0 0 +3 -2
4Al(s) + 3O2(g) ——> 2Al2O3(s)
0 0 +4 -2
S(s) + O2(g) ——> SO2(g)
 OXIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PROPERTIES
Na2O • white solid
• giant ionic lattice
• soluble in water to form a strongly alkaline solution (pH = 13-14)

Na2O(s) + H2O(l) ——> 2NaOH(aq)

• reacts with acids to form salts – A BASIC OXIDE

Na2O(s) + HCl(aq) ——> NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

+ 2- +
Na O Na
 OXIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PROPERTIES
MgO • white solid
• giant ionic lattice
• sparingly soluble in water to form hydroxide (pH = 9)
(Low solubility is due to metal’s greater charge density)

MgO(s) + H2O(l) ——> Mg(OH)2(aq)

• reacts with acids to form salts – A BASIC OXIDE

MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) ——> MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)

2+ 2-
Mg O
 OXIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PROPERTIES
Al2O3 • giant lattice with some covalent character
• insoluble in water
• AMPHOTERIC; it reacts with both acids and alkalis to give salts

with acids Al2O3(s) + 6HCl(aq) ——> 2AlCl3(aq) + 3H2O(l)

with alkalis Al2O3(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 3H2O(l) ——> 2NaAl(OH)4(aq)

 OXIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PROPERTIES
SO2 • simple covalent molecule

O S O ANGULAR / BENT

• soluble in water
• reacts with water to give a weak acidic solution (pH = 3)

SO2(g) + H2O(l) 2H+(aq) + SO32-(aq)

• converted to sulphur trioxide in the CONTACT PROCESS

 OXIDES OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS
PROPERTIES
SO3 • simple covalent molecule

O O
S
TRIGONAL
PLANAR

• reacts violently with water to give a strong acidic solution (pH = 0)

SO3(g) + H2O(l) ——> 2H+(aq) + SO42-(aq)

 METALS OF PERIOD 3
REACTION WITH WATER
Sodium • vigorous reaction
• hydrogen evolved
• strong alkaline solution produced (pH = 14)

Na(s) + 2H2O(l) ——> 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

Magnesium • slow reaction with water

• weaker alkaline solution produced (pH 9-11)

Mg(s) + 2H2O(l) ——> Mg(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)

• very fast reaction with steam

Mg(s) + H2O(l) ——> MgO(S) + H2(g)

AN INTRODUCTION TO
PERIOD 3
COMPOUNDS
THE END

© 2007 JONATHAN HOPTON & KNOCKHARDY PUBLISHING