10.1 Group 2

10.
1 Similarities and trends in the properties of the Group 2

metals, magnesium to barium, and their compounds
Group 2
CONTENTS
• Group 2 elements
• Electronic configuration
• Physical properties
• Chemical properties
• Solubility
• Thermal stability
• Trends in reactivity
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Group 2 elements
• Group 2 elements are also known as Alkali earth
metals
• Consists of 6 elements in the Periodic Table,
namely:
1. Beryllium (Be)
2. Magnesium (Mg)
3. Calcium (Ca)
4. Strontium (Sr)
5. Barium (Ba)
6. Radium (Ra)

Group 2: Periodic Table

Group 2: Electronic configuration
• The electronic configuration indicated

that these elements have 2 s electrons in
there outer most shell
• When they lose these electrons they form
2+ ions
• Example: Mg → Mg2+ + 2e- , Mg2+ have an
inert gas configuration
• These elements are known as s-block
elements

Group 2: Physical properties
1. Natures: All elements are metals
2. Physical state: They have a greyish white luster when freshly cut and are malleable
and ductile
3. Atomic volume, atomic and ionic radii: There is an increase of atomic and ionic radii
as we move from Be to Ra
Elements Be Mg Ca Sr Ba Ra
Atomic volume 4.90 13.97 25.9 34.54 36.7 38.0
Atomic radii 0.96 1.36 1.74 1.91 1.98 2.20
Ionic radii 0.31 0.65 0.99 1.13 1.35 1.52

The radius of the atom is governed by
• The number of layers of electron around the nucleus
• The pull of the outer electrons from the nucleus
• Comparing Be and Mg
Be: 1s2 2s2
Mg: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
In each case, the two outer electrons feel a net pull of
2+ from the nucleus. The positive charge on the
nucleus is cut down by the negativeness of the inner
electrons.

4. Ionization potential: the 1st and 2nd ionization potentials of these elements decrease
with the increase of atomic radii from Be to Ba. However, both these values for Ra are
slightly higher than Ba
Ionization energy I1 899.5 737.7 589.8 549.5 502.9 509.4
(KJ/mol) I2 1757.1 1450.7 1145.4 1064.3 965.2 979.06
First ionization energy: is the energy needed to remove the most loosely held electron
from each of 1 mole of gaseous atom to make 1 mole of slightly charged gaseous ion
M(g) → M+(g) + e-

Ionization energy is governed by:
• The charge on the nucleus
• The amount of screening by inner electrons
• The distance between the outer electrons and the nucleus
As you go down the group

• Nuclear charge increases
• Number of inner electrons increase
• The distance between the outer most electron and the nucleus
increases. Thus it is easier to remove the electron to form ions
• Ionization energy decreases

5. Atomization energy: 1 mole of atom in gaseous state starting from the element in its
standard state

6. Density: Like alkali metals the density of alkaline earth metals also decreases down the
order but in an irregular manner due to difference in crystal structure of these elements
Density (g/cm3) 1.86 1.75 1.55 2.60 3.59 6.0
Why are alkaline earth metal denser than alkaline metals (Group 1)?
Alkaline earth metals have higher nuclear charge and more significant number of valence
electrons, metallic bonding is greater. Thus, they are more denser
7. Electropositive character: it increases from Be to Ba
M→ M2+ + 2e-
• Since the alkaline earth metals are smaller in size and higher in ionization enthalpies,
they are less electropositive compared to alkaline metals

8. Electronegativity: is a measure if the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of
electrons.
• These metals have a small electronegativity which decreases from Be to Ra
Electronegativity 1.5 1.20 1.0 1.0 0.90 0.97

• Example: MgCl2
• MgCl2 is a covalent bond - a pair of shared electrons.
• The electron pair will be dragged towards the chlorine end
because there is a much greater net pull from the chlorine
nucleus than from the magnesium one
• The electron pair ends up close to chlorine that there is a
transfer of electron to the Cl – ions are formed
• The large pull from the Cl nucleus is why Cl is more
electronegative than Mg

• Example: BeCl2
• Beryllium atom is smaller than a magnesium atom.
• That means that the electron pair is going to be closer to
the net 2+ charge from the beryllium end, and so more
strongly attracted to it.
• The electron pair doesn't get attracted close enough to the
chlorine for an ionic bond to be formed.
• Because of its small size, beryllium forms covalent bonds,
not ionic ones. The attraction between the beryllium
nucleus and a bonding pair is always too great for ions to
be formed.

9. Melting and boiling point: The melting and boiling points do not show a regular trend.
They are higher than alkali metals. This is because they have 2 electrons in their
valence shell resulting in the formation of strong metallic bonds for atom binding in
the metal crystalline lattice but alkali metals have only 1 electron in their valence shell
Melting point (°C) 1280 651 851 776 710 960
Boiling point (°C) 1500 1100 1487 1366 1537 1150


10. Melting and boiling point: The melting and boiling points do not show a regular trend.
They are higher than alkali metals. This is because they have 2 electrons in their
valence shell resulting in the formation of strong metallic bonds for atom binding in
the metal crystalline lattice but alkali metals have only 1 electron in their valence shell
Melting point (°C) 1280 651 851 776 710 960
Boiling point (°C) 1500 1100 1487 1366 1537 1150
11. Coloration of the flame: in flame test, the electrons absorb energy and is excited to a
higher energy level. When returning to lower energy level, they give out extra energy
which appears as visible light of characteristic colour

12. Conductivity: good conductors of electricity and heat

Group 2: Chemical properties
properties
1. Reducing property:; As they have 2 electrons in their valence shell and due to their
large size they can easily be oxidized to M2+ ions. They are strong reducing agents
2. Reaction with water:

• Elements react with water to form oxides and hydrogen gas
• Beryllium: reacts with steam at high temperatures to give white beryllium oxide and
hydrogen gas
• Magnesium burns in steam to produce magnesium oxide and hydrogen gas
Mg(s) + H2O(g) → MgO(s) + H2(g)

properties 1. When cotton wool is heated, the water turns to steam; this
reacts with the magnesium strip in the tube to produce
hydrogen gas. If a lit splint is placed at the end of the tube,
the hydrogen gas produced will ignite
2. This reaction produces a bright flame from the

magnesium strip as it burns in the presence of the steam.
It isn’t long before all the magnesium is burnt
3. When the reaction is over there is a white ash left in the

tube; this is the magnesium oxide.

properties
• Very clean Mg ribbon has very slight reaction with cold water (very slow reaction)
• After several minutes some bubbles of H2 gas forms on the surface and the Mg coil
floats to the surface
• The reaction stops quickly as Mg(OH)2 formed is insoluble in water and forms a
barrier on Mg preventing further reaction
Mg(s) + H2O(l) → Mg(OH)2(s) + H2(g)
• Ca, Sr and Ba react with cold water to produce metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
M(s) + H2O(l) → M(OH)2(aq or s) + H2(g)
• Hydroxides are not very soluble but get more soluble as you go down the group
• Ca(OH)2 – white precipitate
• Less precipitate is formed as you go down the group as they are dissolved in water

properties
3. Reaction with oxygen: react readily on heating with O to form oxides, MO
2
2M + O2 → 2MO
• Beryllium is reluctant to burn in oxygen unless it is in the form of dust or powder
Formation of peroxides:
• The peroxides of heavier metals (Ca, Sr, Ba and Ra) can be obtained on heating the
oxides with O2 at high temperatures
2Ba2O(s) + O2(g) → 2Ba2O(s)
• Under high pressure Sr when heated with oxygen its forms peroxided
• Ba form peroxided under normal conditions

properties
Why do some metals form peroxides on heating in oxygen?
• Be and Mg do not form peroxides when heated in O2
• Sr and Ba form peroxides
• Increase in tendency to form peroxides as you go down the group
• Peroxide ion is a covalent bond between 2 oxygen atom and is relatively weak
• When a small 2+ ion approaches the peroxide ion, electrons in the peroxide ion will be
strongly attracted towards the positive ion
• It will form a simple oxide is the right-hand oxygen atom breaks off
• We say that the positive ion polarizes the negative ion.
• This works best if the positive ion is small and highly charged - if it has a high charge
density.

properties
• Ions of the metals at the top of the Group have such a high charge density (because
they are so small) that any peroxide ion near them falls to pieces to give an oxide and
oxygen.
• As you go down the Group and the positive ions get bigger, they don't have so much
effect on the peroxide ion.
• Barium peroxide can form because the barium ion is so large that it doesn't have
such a devastating effect on the peroxide ions as the metals further up the Group.

properties
Group 2 Reaction with O2 Reaction with H2O
Be 2Be(s) + O2(g) → 2BeO(s) -
Mg 2Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2MgO(s) Mg(s) + H2O(g) → MGO(s) + H2(g)
Ca 2Ca(s) + O2(g) → 2CaO(s) Ca(s) + H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(s) + H2(g)
Sr 2Sr(s) + O2(g) → 2SrO(s) Sr(s) + H2O(l) → Sr(OH)2(s) + H2(g)
Ba 2Ba(s) + O2(g) → 2BaO(s) Ba(s) + H2O(l) → Ba(OH)2(s) + H2(g)
Ba(s) + O2(g) → BaO2(s)

properties
4. Reaction with air:
React with nitrogen (N2) to produce nitrides
In each case you will get a mixture of metal oxide and metal nitride
3M(s) + N2(g) → M3N2(s)
• when Mg ribbons burns in air, it produces a white ash which is a mixture of MgO and
Mg3N2
Why do these metals form nitrides on heating in air?
• Nitrogen is often thought of as being fairly unreactive, and yet all these metals
combine with it to produce nitrides, X3N2, containing X2+ and N3- ions.
• Nitrogen is fairly unreactive because of the very large amount of energy needed to
break the triple bond joining the two atoms in the nitrogen molecule, N2.

properties
• When something like magnesium nitride forms, you have to supply all the energy
needed to form the magnesium ions as well as breaking the nitrogen-nitrogen bonds
and then forming N3- ions.
• All of these processes absorb energy.
• The overall reaction is exothermic

properties
5. Reacting with acids:
• Reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl):
• All metals react with HCL to give bubbles of hydrogen and a colourless solution of
metal chloride
M + HCl → MCl2 + H2
• Reaction with sulphuric acid (H2SO4):
• Be and Mg: Forms bubbles of hydrogen gas and colourless solution of Be or Mg
sulphate
• Example: Mg + H2SO4 → MgSO4 + H2
• Calcium sulphate is sparingly soluble

properties
• This will produce hydrogen gas bubbles together with a white precipitate of calcium
sulphate
• Sr and Ba sulphates are insoluble
• That means that you will get a layer of insoluble sulphate on all of these and this will
slow down or stop the reaction
• Reaction with nitric acid (HNO3):
• Be does not react with concentrated HNO3 acid as it forms a layer of insoluble BeO
• The rest react with dilute HNO3 acid to form nitrates and hydrogen gas
Mg + HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2

properties
• At moderate concentration (even with very dilute acid, this happens to a certain
extent)
2Mg + 8HNO3 → 3Mg(NO3)2 + 4NO + 4H2O
• With concentrated acid
Mg + 4HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O
Group 2 Reaction with O2 Reaction with H2O

Be Be(s) + 2HCl(aq) → BeCl2(aq) + H2(g) Be(s) + H2SO4(aq) → BeSO4(aq) + H2(g)
Mg Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g) Mg(s) + H2SO4(aq) → MgSO4(aq) + H2(g)
Ca Ca(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2(g) Ca(s) + H2SO4(aq) → CaSO4(s) + H2(g)
Sr Sr(s) + 2HCl(aq) → SrCl2(aq) + H2(g) Sr(s) + H2SO4(aq) → SrSO4(s) + H2(g)
Ba Ba(s) + 2HCl(aq) → BaCl2(aq) + H2(g) Ba(s) + H2SO4(aq) → BaSO4(s) + H2(g)

properties
6. Reacting with hydrogen: Ca, Sr and Ba react with H when heated to produce
2
crystalline metal hydrides. These hydrides react readily with water to produce H2
• The hydrides react readily water to produce hydrogen gas
MH2 + 2H2O → M(OH)2 + 2H2

properties
Group 2 Reaction with O2 Reaction with HO Reaction with HCl Reaction with H2SO4
Be Reluctant to burn, No reaction Reacts rapidly Reacts vigorously
white flame
Mg Burns easily, bright Vigorous reaction Reacts vigorously Reacts vigorously
white flame with steam, no
reaction with water
Ca Difficult to ignite, Reacts moderately, Reacts vigorously Reaction slowed down by the
red flame hydroxide formed formation of a sparingly soluble
sulphate layer that covers the
metal, stopping hydrogen
bubble from forming
Sr Difficult to ignite, Reacts rapidly, Reacts vigorously Reaction is quickly stopped by
red flame hydroxide formed the formation of an insoluble
sulphate layer on the metal
surface
Ba Difficult to ignite, Reacts vigorously, Reacts vigorously Reaction is quickly stopped by
green flame hydroxide formed the formation of an insoluble
sulphate layer on the metal
surface

Group 2: Reactions of oxides
Group 2 Reaction with H2O Explanation
MgO MgO + H2O → Mg(OH)2 MgO produces a solution with pH 9
(alkaline)
Because MG(OH)2 is sparingly soluble so
less alkaline
CaO CaO + H2O → Ca(OH)2 Undergoes exothermic reaction to produce
Ca(OH)2 (lime water or slaked lime)
Partially soluble – pH 12
SrO SrO + H2O → Sr(OH)2 Very soluble
Produced solution with high pH (<alkaline)
BaO BaO + H2O → Ba(OH)2 Very soluble
Produced solution with high pH (<alkaline)

Group 2: Reactions of oxides
Group 2 Reaction with HCl Reaction with H2SO4 Reaction with H2SO4
MgO MgO + 2HCl → MgCl2 + MgO + 2HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + MgO + H2SO4 → MgSO4 +
H2O H2O H2O
CaO CaO + 2HCl → CaCl2 + CaO + 2HNO3 → Ca(NO3)2 + CaO + H2SO4 → CaSO4 +
H2O H2O H2O
SrO SrO + 2HCl → SrCl2 + H2O SrO + 2HNO3 → Sr(NO3)2 + SrO + H2SO4 → SrSO4 +
H2O H2O
BaO BaO + 2HCl → BaCl2 + SrO + 2HNO3 → Sr(NO3)2 + BaO + H2SO4 → BaSO4 +
H2O H2O H2O

Group 2: Reactions of hydroxides
MgO Mg(OH)2 + 2HCl → MgCl2 Mg(OH)2 + 2HNO3 → Mg(OH)2 + H2SO4 →
+ 2H2O Mg(NO3)2 + 2H2O MgSO4 + 2H2O
CaO Ca(OH)2 + 2HCl → CaCl2 Ca(OH)2 + 2HNO3 → Ca(OH)2 + H2SO4 →
+ 2H2O Ca(NO3)2 + 2H2O CaSO4 + 2H2O
SrO Sr(OH)2 + 2HCl → SrCl2 + Sr(OH)2 + 2HNO3 → Sr(NO3)2 Sr(OH)2 + H2SO4 → SrSO4
2H2O + 2H2O + 2H2O
BaO Ba(OH)2 + 2HCl → BaCl2 Sr(OH)2 + 2HNO3 → Sr(NO3)2 Ba(OH)2 + H2SO4 →
+ 2H2O + 2H2O BaSO4 + 2H2O
Group 2 hydroxides do not react with water

Group 2: Reactions of metal carbonates
MgO MgCO3 + 2HCl → MgCl2 MgCO3 + 2HNO3 → MgCO3 + H2SO4 →
+ H2O + CO2 Mg(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2 MgSO4 + H2O + CO2
CaO CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + CaCO3 + 2HNO3 → Ca(NO3)2 CaCO3 + H2SO4 →
H2O + CO2 + H2O + CO2 CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
SrO SrCO3 + 2HCl → SrCl2 + SrCO3 + 2HNO3 → Sr(NO3)2 + SrCO3 + H2SO4 → SrSO4 +
H2O + CO2 H2O + CO2 H2O + CO2
BaO BaCO3 + 2HCl → BaCl2 + SrCO3 + 2HNO3 → Sr(NO3)2 + BaCO3 + H2SO4 → BaSO4
H2O CO2 H2O + CO2 + H2O + CO2
Group 2 hydroxides do not react with water

Group 2: Solubility
• Hydroxides
• They become more soluble as you go down the group
• Mg(OH)2 insoluble in water
• Ca(OH)2 1L of pure water will dissolve 1g of Ca(OH)2 at room temperature
• Ba(OH)2 is soluble enough to produces a solution with a concentration of 0.1moldm-3
at room temperature

Group 2: Solubility
1. Hydroxides: They become more soluble as you go down the group
• Mg(OH)2 insoluble in water
• Ca(OH)2 1L of pure water will dissolve 1g of Ca(OH)2 at room temperature
• Ba(OH)2 is soluble enough to produces a solution with a concentration of 0.1moldm-3
at room temperature
• pH increases down the group as hydroxides dissolve in water making it more alkaline
2. Sulphates: They become less soluble as you go down the group

• BaSO4 for a white precipitate
3. Carbonates: less soluble as you go down the group

Group 2: Solubility

Group 2: Thermal decomposition
It is the splitting up of a compound by heating
1. Carbonates:
• All carbonates undergo thermal decomposition
• Produces metal oxide and CO2 gas
• Carbonates and the oxides produced are white solids
MCO3(s) → MO(s) + CO2(g)
• As you go down the group, the energy required (heating) to decompose the
carbonate increases
• The carbonates are more stable to heat as you go down the group

Group 2: Thermal stability
It is the splitting up of a compound by heating
2. Nitrates:
• All nitrates undergo thermal decomposition
• Produces metal oxide, NO2 gas and O2
• Nitrates and the oxides produced are white solids
2MNO3(s) → 2MO(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g)
• Brown nitrogen gas is given off with oxygen
• Mg and Ca usually have water of crystallization and they dissolve in its own water of
crystallization to make a colourless solution before decomposing
• The carbonates are more stable to heat as you go down the group

Group 2: Thermal stability
Group Carbonates (CO3- Explanation Nitrate (NO3-) Explanation
2 )
MgO MgCO3 → MgO + 2Mg(NO3)2 → 2MgO
CO2 Carbonates and + 4NO2 + O2
CaO CaCO3 → CaO + oxides are both 2Ca(NO3)2 → 2CaO Nitrates and oxides
CO2 white solids + 4NO2 + O2 are both white solids
SrO SrCO3 → SrO + Carbon dioxide 2Sr(NO3)2 → 2SrO + Nitrogen dioxide gas
CO2 produced is 4NO2 + O2 is brown
BaO SrCO3 → SrO + colourless gas 2Ba(NO3)2 → 2BaO +
CO2 4NO2 + O2

Group 2: Trends in reactivity

10.1 Group 2

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10.1 Group 2

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10.

1 Similarities and trends in the properties of the Group 2

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• The electronic configuration indicated

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As you go down the group

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12. Conductivity: good conductors of electricity and heat

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2. Reaction with water:

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2. This reaction produces a bright flame from the

3. When the reaction is over there is a white ash left in the

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Group 2 Reaction with O2 Reaction with H2O

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Group 2 hydroxides do not react with water

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Group 2 hydroxides do not react with water

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2. Sulphates: They become less soluble as you go down the group

3. Carbonates: less soluble as you go down the group

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