LAB 2 A practical study of some group II elements

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; those in group II are slightly less so
and allow observation of a trend in reactivity not so easily seen for group 1 due to the high reactivity of
all of group 1 elements. Because they are a bit easier to work with in the lab, they are also often used
when experimentally looking at group trends for the s block. For this lab, we will concentrate on three
elements magnesium, calcium and barium. Beryllium is excluded because its compounds are atypical
of elements in group 2, and they tend to be extremely toxic and very expensive. Sodium will be used to
compare as a reference for group 1 activity.

Below details what is normally used in this lab activity. The pure elements were not used in this case,
instead videos of their interaction with water were found to demonstrate the process. This allows the
students to view more of the elements actions since only three metals would have been used. Fill in the
data tables and answer the questions associated with each experiment. Save your document as a pdf
file and upload on the Moodle.

Requirements and materials

5 (10 mL) pyrex test tubes hydrated strontium chloride

3 small test tubes with stoppers hydrated barium chloride
test tube holders distilled water (50 mL)
large test tube sodium carbonate
angled glass with bung to fit test tube magnesium carbonate
beaker ,400 ml calcium carbonate
indicator paper barium carbonate
Bunsen burner and flint lime water (15mL)
Sand paper 0.1 mol dm-3 solutions of: (10 mL)
sodium metal  Mg2+ (Mg(NO3)2 or MgCl2)
magnesium ribbon  Ca2+ (Ca(NO3)2 Or CaCl2)
magnesium powder  Ba2+ (Ba(NO3)2 or BaCl2)
calcium granules  Sr2+ (Sr(NO3)2 or SrCl2)
sodium hydroxide
magnesium oxide 1.0 mol dm-3 solutions of:
calcium hydroxide  OH- (NaOH)
barium hydroxide  CO32+ (Na2CO3)
sodium chloride  SO42+ (Na2SO4)
hydrated magnesium chloride
hydrated calcium chloride

Procedures

Experiment 1: Reactions of the elements with water

Most s-block elements react readily with water to form a basic hydroxide (exception being beryllium),
here you will look at three elements to try to formulate a trend. Sodium and magnesium is used to
assess what happens going across the groups, magnesium and calcium are used to assess what
happens going down the group.

1.1 Test the pH of the water you will using for this exercise using pH paper. (When using distilled or DI
water, the pH of the water may be less than 7 due to dissolution of carbon dioxide in the water.)
1.2 Place a tiny piece of group 1 metal sample in a large beaker with approximately 100mL of DI water
in a hood. (Be very careful, sodium reacts explosively with water.) Observe what happens and write
a balanced equation illustrating the likely reaction.
1.3 Repeat with any other group 1 metal provided.
1.4 Repeat the experiment with a small piece of clean (shiny) magnesium ribbon. (You may need to
sand the surface of the strip if it is not shiny.) If no reaction is observed, heat the water to boiling
 using a Bunsen burner. Observe what happens and write a balanced equation representing the likely
reaction. Test the pH of the water.
1.5 Place a small piece of calcium metal into a beaker with water. Observe what happens and write a
balanced equation representing the likely reaction. (Remember to include the apparent state of
reactants and products.)
1.6 The reactions tend to be similar – test the pH of one of the solutions. What do you notice?

1. Based on your observations, suggest a trend in reactivity of s block metals with water going
across the groups and going down the group.
2. How is beryllium different from the other elements in the group in terms of its reaction with
water?
3. Why do you need to sandpaper the magnesium before reacting?
4. Why is the solution of products from these reactions basic? Which metal do you think would
create the most basic product when reacted with water?

Experiment 2: Hydrolysis of the chlorides

Ionic chlorides usually dissolve in water forming simple hydrated ions; on the other hand, covalent and
partially covalent chlorides become hydrolyzed in the presence of water to give hydrogen chloride and
an oxide or hydroxide. Some group 2 chlorides have partially covalent character. The extent of the
hydrolysis of the group II chlorides upon mixing with water can be estimated by testing the pH of the
mixture. Note that these some of these chlorides are hygroscopic and deliquescent and hence may
appear wet if exposed to humid air.

2.1 Add 3 cm3 of water to five clean test tubes.

2.2 Describe the appearance of the chloride. Suggest whether you would describe it as hygroscopic or
deliquescent.
2.3 Place a small amount of chlorides of sodium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium in separate
test tubes.
2.4 Test the pH of the solutions. Based on the pH indicate which mixtures likely took part in hydrolysis
(remember to compare pH change to the original pH of the water).

1) What does the solid look like if it is hygroscopic? What is the difference between hygroscopic
and deliquescent?
2) Show reaction equations to illustrate the likely reactions for those that show evidence of
hydrolysis.
3) Describe any apparent trend in reactivity of the chloride with water going across the groups and
down group 2.

Experiment 3: Thermal stability of carbonates.

When heated, carbonates often decompose to form carbon dioxide
and water. The ease of decomposition depends on the stability of
the compound. Stability is affected by the ratio of the radius of the
cation:anion and the charge density of the cation.

3.1 Strongly heat about 1 cm depth of each of the dry carbonates

of sodium, magnesium, calcium and barium separately in the
apparatus shown on the right to test for carbon dioxide
emission.
3.2 Continue heating strongly for several minutes and record any
observations, and suggest a trend in stability of the carbonates
going across the groups and down group 2.

1) Why would initial bubbling not be considered indication of decomposition?

2) Show reaction equations to illustrate the reactions for carbonates that tend to experience
decomposition.
3) Identify which carbonate is least stable. Does it make sense that this is least stable? Explain.
4) Show the reaction that occurs in the lime water.
Experiment 4: Solubility of common compounds of group II elements
All group 1 compounds are known to be soluble, hence solubility tests here will focus on group II
elements. To investigate the solubility of Group II compounds, solutions containing various anions with
different group 2 cations are mixed. Formation of precipitates indicate limited solubility, hence increased
precipitate means decreased solubility.

4.1 Put 2 cm3 of 0.1 M solutions of each of the Group II

cations under investigation (Mg 2+, Ca2+, Ba2+, Sr2+) into
separate test tubes; i.e. 2 cm3 of Mg2+ in the first, 2 cm3 of
Ca2+ in the second and 2 cm3 of Ba2+ in the third and 2cm3
of Sr2+ in the fourth. (These will be either nitrate or chloride
solutions)
4.2 Add an equal volume of a 1.0 M solution of sulfate (this will
likely be sodium or potassium sulfate) and mix.
Remember, do not put your thumb over the test tube when
mixing, use a stirring rod.
4.3 Compare the appearance of precipitates. Describe as
soluble, moderately soluble, slightly soluble, or insoluble.
Note these terms are relative and hence are to be used
when comparing one tube to another. On the right is a set
of examples.
4.4 Repeat the experiment, using clean test tubes containing
the cations then adding (instead of the sulfate ions) carbonate ions, then hydroxide ions.
4.5 Describe the trend in solubility for each anion when paired with group 2 cations going down the
group.

1) Briefly describe the main factors that affect solubility.

2) Why do you think hydroxide does not follow the trend of the other counterions investigated?
Lab 3 s-block elements Data Name__________________

Partner_________________

Experiment 1: Create a table as shown below and describe the observed reactions of the elements with
water (6pts)
Element Observations
Na

Experiment 2: Hydrolysis of the chlorides(10pts)

Chloride Appearance of solid pH
NaCl

MgCl2

CaCl2

BaCl2

SrCl2

Experiment 3: Thermal stability of carbonates. (8pts)

Carbonate Observations
Na2CO3

MgCO3

CaCO3

Experiment 4: Solubility of some compounds of group II elements(12pts)

Cation/Anion SO42- CO32- OH- C2O24- IO3¯
Mg2+
Ca2+
Ba2+
Sr2+