TOPIC : GROUP 2
1. Group 2 elements are known as alkaline earth metals or s-block
elements as their
valence electrons are in s orbitals.
2. The Group 2 elements are beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium,
barium and
3. Some information of the Group 2 elements is listed in the table below.
Element Be Mg Ca Sr Ba
Name Beryllium Magnesiu Calcium Strontium Barium
m
Proton 4 12 20 38 56
number
Electronic 2.2 2.8.2 28.8.2 2.8.18.8.2 2.8.18.18.
configurati [He] 2s2 [Ne] 3s2 [Ar] 4s2 [Kr] 5s2 8.2
on [Xe] 6s2
4. All have valence shell electronic configuration of ns 2
5. They are all reactive metals and are not found in the free elemental
states in nature.
6. In their pure state, they have a silver colour but tarnish rapidly in air
due to the
formation of an oxide layer on the metals’ surface.
Example : 2Mg(s) + O2(g) 2MgO(s)
7. They are soft and can be easily cut with a knife.
8. The Group 2 elements give characteristic flame test :
Element Magnesium Calcium Strontium Barium
Colour of the Brilliant Brick red Crimson Apple green
flame white
Physical Properties
1. Atomic radius increase down the group as the outermost
electrons are in the
shells further from the nucleus and the screening effect of inner
electrons increases.
2. Ionic radius (of M2+) increases down the group (same reason as
for increase in
atomic radius). Ionic radius is less then the original atom as the
nuclear charge
exceeds the electronic charge.
3. Melting points generally decrease down the group as melting
bonding gets
weaker due to increased atomic size (the number of delocalized
electrons per atom
is the same). However, different crystalline structures can also affect
the melting
point. (Note : The melting point of magnesium is lower than that of
calcium).
4. Ionisation energies (1st and 2nd) are relatively low and decreases
down the group
(due to increasing size and increasing shielding effect of inner
electrons).
5. Electronegativity increases down the group as increased size and
increased
screening effect make any shared pair of electrons less strongly
attracted to the
nucleus.
Chemical Properties
1. General
(a) The group 2 elements are typical metals and are very reactive,
powerful reducing
agents.
M M2+ + 2e
(b) They form mostly ionic compounds containing M2+ ions except for
some covalent
compounds formed by beryllium; and only have the oxidation
number +2 in all
their compounds.
(c) On going down the group, the elements generally become more
reactive because
as proton number increases, the atomic radius increases, the
ionization energy
decreses, and atom loses its electrons more readily to form the M 2+
ion. So the
metals become more electropositive.
2. Reaction With Water
(a) The reactivity of the elements with water increases down the
group. As the
elements become more electropositive their reducing
power increases;
reducing water to hydrogen an forming their hydroxides or
oxides.
(b) (i) Beryllium does not react with cold water. (will react slowly
with steam at
very high temperature)
Be(s) + H2O(l) BeO(s) + H2(g)
(ii) Heated magnesium reacts rapidly with steam to form
magnesium oxide
and hydrogen.
Mg(s) + H2O(l) MgO(s) + H2(g)
(iii) Calcium reacts very slowly in cold water but rapidly with
hot water to
form the sparingly soluble calcium hydroxide and
hydrogen.
Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) Ca(OH)2(s) + H2(g)
(iv) Strontium and barium react vigorously with cold
water to form their
respective hydroxide solution and hydrogen.
Sr(s) + 2H2O(l) Sr(OH)2(s) + H2(g)
Ba(s) + 2H2O(l) Ba(OH)2(s) + H2(g)
3. Reaction with oxygen
(a) The metal (when heated) burn in air to form the oxides which are
white solids.
General equation : 2M(s) + O2(g) 2MO(s)
(b) Reactivity increases down the group. Fine barium powder will
burn
spontaneously in air, (Barium is normally stored in paraffin oil).
2Be(s) + O2(g) 2BeO(s)
2Mg(s) + O2(g) 2MgO(s)
2Ca(s) + O2(g) 2CaO(s)
2Sr(s) + O2(g) 2SrO(s)
2Ba(s) + O2(g) 2BaO(s)
(c) Due to the decreasing polarizing power of the cation down the
group, the
formation of peroxides becomes possible. Strontium and barium
from SrO2 and
BaO2 respectively with excess oxygen but magnesium does not.
Sr(s) + O2(g) SrO2(s)
Ba(s) + O2(g) BaO2(s)
(d) Properties of the oxides
(i) the oxides are all basic (except BeO which is amphoteric)
(ii) the solubility of the oxides in water increases down the
group :
BeO is insoluble
MgO is very sparingly soluble
CaO is sparingly soluble
SrO soluble
BaO soluble
Forming the alkaline hydroxide
Solubility of oxides depends on solubility of hydroxides that
increases
down the group.
MgO(s) + H2O(l) Mg(OH)2(aq)
(sparingly soluble.
Weakly alkaline)
CaO(s)
H2O(l) Ca(OH)2(aq)
+
SrO(s)
+ H2O(l) Sr(OH)2(aq)
BaO(s)
+ H O
2 (l) Ba(OH)2(aq)
(strongly alkaline)
Trend in thermal stability of the Nitrates, Carbonates and
Hydroxides of Group 2 elements
All nitrates, carbonates and hydroxides of the Group 2 elements
decompose when heated strongly. Thermal stability increases
down the group, that is ease of thermal decomposition decreases.
1. Nitrates undergo thermal decomposition to form the corresponding
oxide,
nitrogen dioxide gas and oxygen.
NO2 -- brown gas
O2 -- ignites a glowing splinter
2M(NO3)2(s)
Trend in thermal stability of the nitrates, carbonates and
hydroxides of Group 2 elements
Explanation :
1. (a) Thermal decomposition occurs due to the polarization of the
large anion by
the Group 2 cation of high charge density.
(b) Polarisation distorts the electron cloud and weakens
bonds, resulting in
decomposition.
For example, the large carbonate ion decomposes as shown
below
Polarisation occurs when a small cation distorts the electron cloud of a
large
anion. The polarizing effect is greastest between a small cation
with a high
charge (high charge density) and a large anion.
2. (a) The thermal stability of Group 2 compounds increases down
the group from
Be to Ba. On descending the group, temperatures required to
decompose the
compounds increase.
(b) Reason :
(i) the size of Group 2 cations increases down the group. As
all the ions have
2+ charges, the charge density and hence the
polarizing power of the
cations also decreases down the group.
(ii) When the polarization of large anions decreases, they
are not as easy
decomposed.
(c) The compounds of beryllium are the least stable and undergo
the thermal
decomposition most easily.
Mg 2+
2+
Ca
2+
Ba
3. (a) When the nitrates, carbonates and hydroxides of the elements are
heated, the
metal oxides are formed because they are more stable.
(b) Reasons for extra stability of the metal oxide:
(i) The oxide ion, O2-, is smaller and not as easily polarized
compared to the
bigger NO3- , CO32- and OH- ions.
(ii) The ionic bond between the cation (M2+) and the smaller
oxide ion will be
stronger resulting in a higher lattice energy for the
metal oxide.
Solubility Of Sulphates
1. Sulphates of Group 2 elements are formed when the basic oxides react
with
sulphuric acid. The sulphate has the general formula MSO 4 (e.g.
MgSO4 ,
CaSO4)
2. The solubility of the sulphates decreases down the group.
Magnesium
sulphate is very soluble in water, but barium sulphate is very
sparingly
soluble (insoluble).
3. The solubility of an ionic compound depends on two factors :
(a) The lattice energy of the ionic solid
(b) The enthalpy of hydration (or hydration energy) of the carbon
anion.
4. (a) A higher lattice energy will result in a decrease in solubility.
(i) Energy is required to break the solid lattice apart into its
free ions.
M2+X2-(s) M2+(g) + X2-(g)
This process is endothermic and the amount of energy
required per mole
of compound is equivalent to its lattice energy.
(Lattice energy is defined as the energy evolved (exothermic)
when 1 mol of
an ionic lattice is formed from its constituent gaseous ions).
(ii) Lattice energy increases when the size of the ion(s)
decreases, the
charge on the ion(s) increases; and its charge density
increases as more
energy is required to break the stronger ionic bonds that hold
the ions
together.
(b) A higher enthalpy will result in an increase in solubility
(i) When an ionic compound dissolves, the free ions become
hydrated by
water molecules, heat energy is given out. the energy
involved is the
enthalpy of hydration.
M2+(g) + aq M2+(aq) ; X2-(g) + aq X2-(aq)
(ii) Enthalpy of hydration increases when the size of the ion
decreases, the
charge on the ion increases; and its charge density
increases.
5. (a) Going down the group, the size of the M2+ ion increases and
charge density
decreases. Hence both the lattice energy and the enthalpy
oh hydration
decrease.
(b) However, for the sulphates of the Group 2 elements, the
decrease in lattice
energy down the group is very small. This is because the
size of the sulphate
ion is very large compared to the size of the cation M2+.
So the decrease in lattice energy of the sulphate down the
group is small and
will not contribute much to its solubility.
(c) However the increase in ionic size of the cations from Be2+ to
Ba2+ causes a
large decrease in the enthalpy of hydration of the cations
down the group.
A decrease in enthalpy of hydration causes the solubility
of the sulphates to
decrease.
(d) In summary, going down Group 2, the enthalpy of the hydration
of the cations
on the lattice energy decrease because the size of the cations
increases and the
charge density decreases. However, the enthalpy of
hydration decreases
much more than the lattice energy. Hence the solubility of
the sulphates
decreases down the group.
Anomalous Properties of Beryllium
1. Some of the properties of beryllium are more similar to the
properties of
aluminium (Group 13) tha those of the elements of Group 2. These
properties
atypical of the Group 2 elements arise due to
(a) the small atomic radius of Be resulting in its very high
ionization energy.
(b) the high charge density of the Be2+ ion giving it a high
polarizing power. As a result, beryllium forms covalent
compounds as well as ionic compounds with covalent
character.
(c) the high charge density of the Be2+ ion also enables it to attract
lone pair
electrons from ligands to form complex ion.
(d) the electronegativity of be is equal to that of aluminium.
2. Beryllium chloride is a covalent solid with low melting point
whereas all the other
chlorides of Group 2 elements are ionic compounds.
At room temperature beryllium chlorides exists as Be 2Cl44-
It Hydrolyses in water forming fumes of HCl
3. Beryllium oxides is amphoteric while all the other oxides of Group 2
elements are
basic.
4. Beryllium forms complex ions such as [BeF4]2- and [Be(OH)4]2- but the
elements of
Group 2 do not.
5. Beryllium metal reacts with hot concentrated sodium hydroxide to
form salt sodium
beryllate and hydrogen.
