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Chapter 10 S – BLOCK ELEMENTS

S block elements- Group -1 & 2 Gen. confgn-ns1-2

Gp-1 elements - Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr Gen. confgn-ns1
Gp-2 elements – Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra Gen. confgn-ns2

GROUP I ELEMENTS _--- ALKALI METALS

General Characteristics:

Assign reasons for the following questions:

1). Group -1 elements are called alkali metals.

Because they form hydroxides on reaction with water, which are strongly alkaline in nature.

2). Group – 2 elements are called alkaline earth metals.

Because their oxides and hydroxides are alkaline in nature and these metal oxides are
found in earth’s crust.

3). Alkali metals are not found free in nature? (OR) Alkali metals are highly reactive.
• Due to the large size and low ionization enthalpy of alkali metals.
• Alkali metals have only one electron in its valence shell. So they readily lose it and
form monovalent ion.

4). Sodium is less reactive than potassium?

Due to small size and high ionization enthalpy of sodium than potassium.

5). Lithium salts are commonly hydrated while salts of other metals are usually anhydrous.
Due to the small size and high polarizing power of lithium , it has maximum degree of
hydration. Eg:LiCl..2H2O

6). Li+ has maximum degree of hydration and hence lithium salts are mostly hydrated .
eg: LiCl .2H2O
Due to small size, high polarizing power and high hydration enthalpy of Li + ion.

7). The mobilities of alkali metal ions in aq: solutions are Li + ˂ Na+˂ K+ ˂ Rb+ ˂ Cs +.
Alkali metal ions are highly hydrated. Small cations have high hydration enthalpy. Since
smaller cations are highly hydrated, its hydrated ion has larger mass and lesser will be its
mobility. Cs+ ion is the largest ion , hence it has higher mobility.

Physical Properties:
8). Alkali metals have low melting and boiling points.
Alkali metals have only one valence electron, hence it has weak metallic bonding.

9). Alkali metals and their salts impart colour to the oxidising flame.
The Valence electrons of alkali metals absorb energy from the flame and get excited to
higher energy level. When they come back to lower energy level, they emit radiations which
fall in the visible region. Eg: Li- Crimson red , Na-Yellow , K-Violet

10). Potassium (k) and Caesium (Cs), rather than lithium ( Li) are used in photoelectric cells.
Potassium and Caesium have large size and low ionization energy. Hence they emit
electron easily, when irradiated with light. Hence used in photo electric cells.
Li has small size and high ionization enthalpy. Hence the light energy is not
sufficient to eject electron.
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Chemical Properties:
11). Li forms only monoxide where as other forms peroxide and superoxide.
Due to the Small size of lithium ion , it can stabilize only the small anion (oxide) while the
larger cations can stabilize larger anions.

12). What is the oxidation state of K in KO2 and Na in Na2O2 ?

The superoxide species is represented as O 2- , hence the oxidation state of potassium is +1.
The peroxide species is represented as O2 2-, hence oxidation state of sodium is +1.

13).Why is KO2 paramagnetic ?

The superoxide O2- is paramagnetic because of 1 unpaired electron in π*antibonding
molecular orbital.

14). Lithium is the only alkali metal which forms nitride directly.
Due to the small size of lithium ion, it can stabilizes small nitride ion , while larger cations
cannot stabilise nitride ion. 6 Li (s) + N2 (g) → 2 Li3N(s)

15). Sodium and Potassium should kept away from water. (OR) Alkali metals are stored in
kerosene.
Alkali metals ( Na/ K) are highly reactive. It reacts violently with air and water at room
temperature to produce H2 gas and catches fire easily.

2Na + O2→ Na2O2 (peroxide) 2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2.

16). Lithium reacts less vigorously with water than sodium.

Due to the small size and more hydration enthalpy of Lithium.

17). Write the reactions of alkali metals with oxygen.

Reaction with excess air

4Li + O2 → Li2O (monoxide)
2Na + O2→ Na2O2 (peroxide)
K + O2 → KO2 (superoxide)

18). Write balanced equations for reactions between

a) Li2O and water; Li2O + H2O →2LiOH
b) Na2O2 and water; Na2O2 + H2O →2NaOH + H2O2
c) KO2 and water; 2KO2 + 2H2O → 2KOH + H2O2 +O2

19). What happens when

(i) sodium metal is dropped in water ?
It forms NaOH and Hydrogen gas. 2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2.
(ii) sodium metal is heated in free supply of air ?
It forms peroxides. 2 Na + O2 → Na2O2 .
(iii) sodium peroxide dissolves in water ?
It forms NaOH and H2O2. Na2O2 + H2O → 2 NaOH + H2O2

20). Although Li has most negative E0 value its reaction with water is less vigorous than that of
sodium.
Due to the small size and very high hydration energy of Lithium.

21). The alkali metals are strong reducing agents, lithium being the most powerful .
Due to the small size and larger hydration enthalpy of Lithium compensates the
larger ionization enthalpy
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22). Lithium halides are covalent in nature.

Due to small size and high polarizing power of Li +, it can polarizes the large sized halide
(Eg: I- ) ion.

23). Lithium Iodide( LiI) is most covalent in nature.

Due to small size and high polarizing power of Li+, it can polarizes the large sized
halide (Eg: I- ) ion.

24). When an alkali metal dissolves in liquid ammonia the solution can acquire different colours.
Explain the reasons for this type of colour change.
The alkali metals dissolve in liquid ammonia giving deep blue solutions which are
conducting in nature. This is due to ammoniated electron and ammoniated cations.
The blue colour of the solution is due to the ammoniated electron which absorbs energy
from the visible region of light and gets excited. It is paramagnetic.
M + (x + y)NH3 → [M(NH3)x]+ +[e(NH3)y]−
As the concentration of the solution increases ,the blue colour changes to copper-bronze
due to formation of metal ion clusters. It is diamagnetic.
M+(am) + e− + NH3 → MNH2(am) + ½H2 (where ‘am’ denotes solution in ammonia.)

General Characteristics of compounds of alkali metals:

25). Lithium halides are soluble in organic solvents like ethanol, ester and acetone.
Due to the covalent nature of Lithium halides.
26). LiI is more soluble than KI in ethanol.
Due to the covalent nature of Lithium Iodide.(Small Li + polarises larger I- ion).

27). LiCl is soluble in water as well as in acetone.

LiCl is soluble in water due to its high hydration enthalpy whereas soluble in acetone
due to its covalent nature.

28). Lithium Flouride (LiF) is almost insoluble in water. Due to the high lattice enthalpy of LiF.

29). LiF and CsI are less soluble .

LiF has low solubility due to high lattice enthalpy whereas CsI is less soluble because of
low hydration enthalpy of the ions.

30). Lithium Carbonate ( Li2CO3 ) is decomposed at a lower temperature whereas Na 2CO3 at

higher temperature? (or) Lithium carbonate is not so stable to heat.
Due to the small size of Li + ion , it can polarizes large CO32- ( carbonate ) ion
leading to the formation of stable Li2O and CO2 whereas larger Na+ stabilizes larger CO32-
.Therefore Na2CO3 is stable to heat.

Diagonal Relationship

31). Explain Diagonal relationship? Give example. Give reason for diagonal relationship.
Some second period elements show similaritie in properties with the third period
elements present diagonally to each other, eventhough they belong to different groups. The
similarity in properties of elements present diagonally is called diagonal relationship.
This is due to the similar ionic sizes and similar charge /radius ratio.
For example, lithium shows resemblance with magnesium, the element of group 2 .
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Gp -1 Gp-2 Gp-13 Gp -14

Second Li Be B C
Period

Third Na Mg Al Si
period

Anomalous Properties of Lithium

32).Give reason for anomalous properties of Lithium. (OR) Why Lithium shows anomalous
properties?
Due to (i) Exceptionally small size of its Li atom and its ion (ii) High polarizing power
of Li (iii) High ionization enthalpy.

33).In what ways lithium shows similarities to magnesium in its chemical behaviour?
Points of Similarities between Lithium and Magnesium
The similarity between lithium and magnesium is due to their similar sizes :
The main points of similarity are:
(i) . Both lithium and magnesium are harder and lighter than other elements in the respective
groups.
(ii). Both Li and Mg form monoxide . These oxides, Li2O and MgO, do not combine with excess
oxygen to give any superoxide.
(iii). Both Li and Mg form nitride, Li3N and Mg3N2, by direct combination with nitrogen.
(iv). Solid hydrogencarbonates are not formed by lithium and magnesium.
(v). Both LiCl and MgCl2 are soluble in ethanol.
(vi). Both LiCl and MgCl2 are deliquescent and crystallise from aqueous solution as hydrates,
LiCl·2H2O and MgCl2·8H2O.
(vii). Lithium and magnesium react slowly with water. Their oxides and hydroxides are much less
soluble and their hydroxides decompose on heating.
(viii). The carbonates of lithium and Mg decompose easily on heating to form the oxides and CO2.

33). How does the lithium shows difference in properties with other alkali metals ? (OR) What
are the anomalous properties of Lithium? (OR) List the point of difference between Lithium
and other alkali metals.
(i) Lithium is much harder. Its m.p. and b.p. are higher than the other alkali metals.
(ii) Lithium is least reactive but the strongest reducing agent among all the alkali metals.
(iii) LiCl is deliquescent and crystallises as a hydrate, LiCl.2H2O whereas other alkali metal
chlorides do not form hydrates.
(iv) Lithium hydrogencarbonate is not obtained in the solid form while all other elements form
solid hydrogencarbonates.
(v) Lithium unlike other alkali metals forms no ethynide on reaction with ethyne.
(vi) Lithium nitrate when heated gives lithium oxide, Li 2O, whereas other alkali metal nitrates
decompose to give the corresponding nitrite.
4LiNO3 → 2Li2O + 4NO2 + O2
2NaNO3 → 2NaNO2 + O2
(vii) LiF and Li2O are comparatively much less soluble in water than the corresponding
compounds of other alkali metals.
(viii). Lithium reacts with oxygen to form monoxide while other alkali metals form peroxide and
superoxide.
(ix). Lithium reacts with nitrogen to form nitride while others not.
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GROUP II ELEMENTS- ALKALINE EARTH METALS

34). Beryllium and Mg do not give colour to flame whereas other alkaline earth metals do so.
Be and Mg have small size and high ionization enthalpy and hence electrons are strongly
bound by the nucleus and cannot be excited by flame. Hence these elements do not impart
any colour to the flame whereas the other alkaline earth metals have loosely bounded
electrons due to larger size and high I.E.

33). Beryllium is a weaker reducing agent compared to other alkaline earth metals.
Due to the small size , high hydration enthalpy and relatively high value of atomization
enthalpy of Be.

34). Alkaline earth metals dissolves in liquid ammonia gives deep blue black solution.
The alkali metals dissolve in liquid ammonia giving deep blue solutions due to
ammoniate electron and ammoniated cations.
M + (x + y)NH3 → [M(NH3)x]2+ +2 [e(NH3)y]−

35). The solubility of alkaline earth metal hydroxides in water increase down the group?
Lattice enthalpy decreases much more than the hydration enthalpy (H.E. increases) with
increase in ionic size .

36). The solubility of alkaline earth metal carbonates and sulphates in water decrease down the
group?
Hydration enthalpy decreases down the group. ( Since anions being bigger in size
than cations , the lattice enthalpy remain constant in a group. Hence hydration enthalpy
decreases down a group and solubility decreases.).

37) How would you explain the following observations?

(i) BeO is almost insoluble but BeSO4 is soluble in water.
BeO (covalent) has high lattice enthalpy than the hydration enthalpy of its ions,hence
insoluble .
BeSO4 due to its high hydration enthalpy, it is soluble in water.

(ii) BaO is soluble but BaSO4 is insoluble in water,

BaO has high hydration enthalpy than lattice enthalpy therefore soluble.
BaSO4 has less hydration enthalpy than lattice enthalpy ,therefore insoluble in water.

38). BeO and MgO are insoluble in water while others are soluble.
Due to the small size and high lattice enthalpy of given compounds.

39). Show that Be (OH)2 is amphoteric in nature.

It is amphoteric in nature since it reacts with both acids and bases.
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40). Draw the structure of (i) BeCl2 (vapour) (ii) BeCl2 (solid).

(ii)In vapour state, BeCl2 exists as a dimer. (ii) In solid phase, BeCl2 exists as a polymer.

41). BeSO4 and MgSO4 are soluble in water.

Due to the greater hydration enthalpy of Be2+ and Mg2+ ions which is greater than the
lattice enthalpy factor.

42). Beryllium halides are soluble in organic solvents.

Due to its covalent nature.

43).Give reason for anomalous properties of Beryllium. (OR) Why Be shows anomalous
properties?
Due to (i) Exceptionally small size of its Be atom and its ion (ii) High polarizing
power of Be (iii) High ionization enthalpy.

44).Write the anomalous behavior of Beryllium.

(i) Beryllium has small size, high ionization enthalpy and form covalent compounds
(ii) The oxides and hydroxides of Beryllium are amphoteric.
(iii) Be does not exibit coordination no. more than 4 due to absence of d- orbital. Others can
have coordination no. 6 due to the presence of d- orbitals.

45).Discuss the diagonal relationship between Beryllium and Aluminium by giving some points
of resemblance between them.
(i) Both Be and Al form covalent compounds
(ii) Both Be and Al are not attacked by acids due to the presence of an oxide film on the metal
surface.
(iii) Beryllium hydroxide dissolves in excess of alkali to give a beryllate ion, [Be(OH) 4]2- just as
aluminium hydroxide gives aluminate ion, [Al(OH)4] -.
(iv) The chlorides of both beryllium and aluminium have bridged chloride structure in vapour
phase.
(v) Both the chlorides (BeCl2 and AlCl3) are soluble in organic solvents and are strong Lewis
acids. They are used as Friedel Craft catalysts.
(vi) Beryllium and aluminium ions have strong tendency to form complexes, BeF 42-, AlF63-
(vii) The oxides and hydroxides of both Be and Al are amphoteric.

46). Why does the first element of a group shows anomalous behaviour in comparison to other
members of the same group?
Anomalous behavior of the first element of a group is due to :- the small size, high
elecronegativity, high I.E., and high polarizing power of its cation and absence of vacant
d orbitals in its valence shell.

47). The hydroxides and carbonates of sodium and potassium are easily soluble in water while
the corresponding salts of Mg and Ca are sparingly soluble in water. Why?
In the case of hydroxides and carbonates of sodium and potassium , Hydration
enthalpy is greater than Lattice enthalpy , hence are easily soluble in water while in the
corresponding salts of Mg and Ca lattice enthalpy is greater than hydration enthalpy, hence
sparingly soluble in water

48). Why can alkali and alkaline earth metals not be obtained by chemical reduction methods?
Because they are good reducing agents.