YISHUN INNOVA JUNIOR COLLEGE

2020 JC2 H2 CHEMISTRY

THE PERIODIC TABLE PART II – Teacher’s Copy
GROUP 2 & 17 TUTORIAL

Physical Properties [Refer to lecture notes page: 3-4, 11-13]

1 Explain each of the following observations in terms of structure and bonding.

(a) The alkaline earth metals (beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium) all
have a fixed oxidation number in their compounds. [2]
Compounds of the alkaline earth metals all have giant ionic structure with strong
electrostatic attraction between oppositely charges ions. The metals have two
electrons in the outermost shell and they tend to lose both electrons to form
cations of +2 charge and form ionic bonds.

The 3rd I.E. of the alkaline earth metals is much higher than the 2nd I.E as the 3rd
electron to be removed is located at an inner quantum shell nearer and more strongly
attracted to nucleus. hence ionic compounds having the alkaline earth metals cations
of +3 charge would not be feasible.

(b) Beryllium chloride (boiling point 547 °C) is much more volatile than magnesium
chloride (boiling point 1418 °C). [2]
MgCl2 has a much higher boiling point than BeCl2 and is therefore less easily
vapourised (less volatile).

This is because MgCl2 has a giant ionic lattice structure, and therefore a large
amount of energy is required to overcome the strong electrostatic forces of
attraction between the oppositely charged ions.

As for BeCl2, it has simple molecular structure. Hence less energy is required to
overcome the weaker instantaneous dipole-induced dipole interactions between
the BeCl2 molecules.

Additional: the unusual high boiling point of BeCl2 is due stronger id-id interactions
due to larger and more polarisable electron cloud size of BeCl2 as it is electron deficient
and able to polymerise.

State the physical states and the colours of chlorine, bromine and iodine at room
2
temperature, and explain the observed trend in their volatilities. [4]
chlorine bromine iodine
Physical state gas liquid solid
at rtp
Colour greenish-yellow reddish-brown black
[1]

1
 (Note:Students can explain the physical state and colour using words)
 The halogens have simple molecular structures, non-polar with instantaneous
dipole induced dipole forces of attraction between molecules.
 Down the group
o size of electron cloud increases and more easily polarised
o stronger instantaneous dipole induced dipole interactions between
molecules exists
o more energy needed to overcome the stronger intermolecular forces
o boiling point increases. (volatility is the tendency for substance to vaporize
which is (l) to (g) so just mention boiling point)
 (Since boiling point is inversely proportional to volatility,) volatility of
elements decreases down the group.

Reducing power of Group 2 elements [Refer to lecture notes page: 5-6]

3 (a) Describe and explain the following aspects of the chemistry of Group 2 elements
(from Be to Ba)

(i) The variation in the first ionisation energy of the elements, [3]

Down the Group (Mg to Ba), due to the higher number of electronic shells,
the increase in shielding effect outweighs increase in nuclear charge,
the effective nuclear charge decreases, resulting in first ionisation
energy decreases as valence electrons are less tightly held by
nucleus and less energy is required to remove the valence electrons.

(ii) The reducing power of the elements, [2]

Eө / V
Mg 2+
+ 2e Mg –2.38
Ca2+ + 2e Ca –2.87
Ba2+ + 2e Ba –2.91

Down Group II, Eө values become more negative. Equilibrium position lies
more to the left, hence the higher tendency for oxidation process
Reducing power of Group II elements increases down the group.

(b) By using the Data Booklet, predict the approximate magnitude of the standard
electrode potential of radium (Ra). [2]

Ra is below Ba. Hence it is expected to be a stronger reducing agent than Ba and

so, would have a Eө value more negative than -2.90V, ie -2.93V

2
Thermal Stability of Group 2 Compounds [Refer to lecture notes page: 7-9]

4 N00/I/5(a)-(c)
(a) Describe and explain the trend in the thermal decomposition of the nitrates of the Group
2 elements Mg to Ba, writing an equation for any reaction that occurs. [3]

1
M(NO3)2(s)  MO(s) + 2NO2(g) + O2 (g)
2
M = Group 2 metal

Down Group 2,
 the cation size increases, the charge density of cation decreases,
 polarising power of cation decreases, less able to polarize electron cloud of
NO - , weakening N–O bond in the NO - to a smaller extent
3 3

 More energy is needed to break down the anion and hence thermal stability
increases.

(b) When water is added to the remaining solid after barium nitrate has been heated, an
alkaline solution is produced. The addition of sulfuric acid to this solution produces a white
precipitate.

Identify the products of these two reactions, and write equations for them. [2]

1
Decomposition of barium nitrate: Ba(NO3)2(s)  BaO(s) + 2NO2(g) + O2 (g)
2
Addition of water: BaO(s) + H2O(l)  Ba(OH)2(aq)
Ba(OH)2 is the alkaline solution.

Addition of H2SO4: Ba(OH)2(aq) + H2SO4(aq)  BaSO4(s) + 2 H2O

BaSO4 is the white ppt.

(c) When the procedure described in (b) is repeated using the solid remaining after
magnesium nitrate has been heated, several differences are observed.
Describe clearly what these differences are. [3]

 The solid remaining after magnesium nitrate has been heated is MgO.
 The white solid, MgO dissolves sparingly in water to give a weakly alkaline
solution of Mg(OH)2.

MgO(s) + H2O(l)  Mg(OH)2 (s) Mg(OH)2 (aq)

 When aqueous H2SO4 is added, the white solid dissolves to give a colourless
solution of MgSO4.

Mg(OH)2 (s) + H2SO4 (aq)  MgSO4(aq) + H2O(l)

3
Oxidising Power of Group 17 elements [Refer to lecture notes page: 15-17]
5 Bromine has been obtained from sea salt for a number of years. For simplification, sea salt
can be considered to be sodium chloride containing some sodium bromide.

Our early method of obtaining bromine is outlined below:

(a) (i) What causes the yellow colour produced in A?

Bromine

(ii) Write an equation for the reaction in A.

2Br– + Cl2  2Cl– + Br2

(b) Ether is an organic solvent immiscible with water. Explain why the yellow substance
dissolves in the ether in B but the salt does not dissolve in ether.

Bromine is non-polar , so it dissolves better in a non-polar solvent like ether as it forms

instantaneous dipole-induced dipole interactions with ether. However, the salt is
ionic in nature and is insoluble in a non-polar solvent as it cannot form favorable
interactions with ether.

(c) Given that bromine undergoes disproportionation in the presence of KOH to give BrO-
as one of the product, suggest an equation for reaction C.

Br2 + 2OH–  BrO– + Br – + H2O

(d) Suggest an equation for reaction D, the reaction of acid on the products of reaction C.

BrO– + Br- + 2H+  Br2 + H2O

4
Thermal Stability of Group 17 Hydrides [Refer to lecture notes page: 18-19]

6 HF HCl HBr HI

Boiling point / ºC +20 -85 -67 -35

Bond energy / kJ mol-1 562 431 366 299

∆Hf/ kJ mol-1 -269 -92 -36 +26

Using the data given above, describe and explain how the thermal stability of [3]
the hydrides varies down Group 17.
 From the data given, bond energy values (Data Booklet) decreases down the
group.
 The relative thermal stabilities of the hydrides of the Group 17 elements decrease
down the group.

Reason: Down the group

 the atomic radii of halogen X increases,

 the effectiveness of overlap between the H orbital and the X orbital decreases ,
 the H―X covalent bond is thus weaker ,
 less energy would be required to overcome the H―X bond.
 Thermal stability of HX decreases

Additional Questions

Group 17 halides (X−) – Solubility of silver salts [Refer to lecture notes page: 19  20]

Ammonia is a reagent commonly used to react with copper and silver ions. The metal
7
ions can be precipitated from their solutions in some instances.

With the aid of relevant equations, explain the following observations as fully as you can.

When aqueous ammonia is added to AgCl, the precipitate dissolves. However, if

aqueous ammonia is added to AgBr, the precipitate remains insoluble. [2]

Ag+(aq) + Cl− (aq) ⇌ AgCl(s) ---- (1)

When NH3(aq) is added, it reacts with Ag+ to form [Ag(NH3)2 ]+(aq).

Ag+(aq) + 2NH3(aq) ⇌ [Ag(NH3)2 ]+(aq)

The concentration of Ag+(aq) decreases and the equilibrium position (1) shifts left
and ionic product [Ag+][Cl−] becomes lower than Ksp (AgCl)

As the Ksp of AgBr is lower than Ksp of AgCl, the ionic product [Ag+][Br−] remains
higher than Ksp of AgBr upon addition of NH3(aq). Hence, the precipitate remains
insoluble.

5
8 N03/3/5
(a) Describe what would you see if chlorine water is added to aqueous sodium
bromide. Write an equation for the reaction. Suggest why this reaction is
spontaneous. [2]
Pale yellow solution turns orange.
Cl2 + 2Br− → 2Cl− + Br2
The reaction is spontaneous as
Eocell = Eo(Cl2/Cl−) − Eo(Br2/Br−)
= +1.36 V – (+1.07V)
= +0.29 V (>0)

(b) When chlorine is bubbled through an aqueous solution containing sodium

hydroxide and sodium bromide, bromide ions are oxidised to a bromine-containing
oxyanion. Careful addition of aqueous silver nitrate to the resulting solution
precipitates 4.31 g of AgCl. When this precipitate is filtered off, and more silver
nitrate solution added, 1.18 g of a cream solid is produced. The solid had the
following composition by mass: Ag, 45.8 %; Br, 33.9 %; O, 20.3 %.
(i) Calculate the formula of the cream solid. [1]

Ag Br O
% by mass 45.8 33.9 20.3
Ar 107.9 79.9 16.0
% / Ar 0.42447 0.42428 1.2688
Simplest ratio 1 1 3

The cream solid is AgBrO3.

(ii) Calculate the number of moles of cream solid and silver chloride formed. [1]
1.18
Amount of AgBrO3 =  0.0050042 = 5.00 × 10−3 mol
107.9  79.9  3(16.0)
4.31
Amount of AgCl =  0.030077 mol = 3.01 × 10−2 mol
107.9  35.5

(iii) Construct a balanced equation for the reaction between chlorine, sodium
bromide and sodium hydroxide. [1]
R: Cl2 + 2e− → 2Cl−
O: Br− + 6OH− → BrO3− + 3H2O + 6e−
Overall: 3Cl2 + Br− + 6OH− → 6Cl− + BrO3− + 3H2O