PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS

GROUP MEMBERS:
SAPHIRE CLARKE
SHENNEL HUDSON
KHADIJA PRINCE
TEJAYE STEVENS
OBJECTIVES:

• Explain the variations in physical properties of the elements.

• Describe the reactions of the elements with oxygen, chlorine and water.
• Explain the variation in oxidation number of the oxides and chlorides.
• Describe the reactions of the oxides and chlorides with water.
• Explain the trend in the acid/base behaviour of the oxides and hydroxides.
• Predict the types of chemical bonding present in the chlorides and oxides.
WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS IN GROUP III?
The elements in group III are:

• Sodium ( Na )
• Magnesium ( Mg )
• Aluminium ( Al )
• Silicon ( Si )
• Phosphorous ( P )
• Sulphur ( S )
• Chlorine ( Cl )
• Argon ( Ar )
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF GROUP III
ELELMENTS.

The elements have the same number of electrons in the inner shells but the
number of valence shell increases. These determine the structure and bonding
of
the elements which in turn relate to their properties.
ATOMIC RADII

The atomic radius of an atom is affected by the nuclear charge of the atom and
the shielding effect of the inner electrons. As we move across Period 3, the
nuclear charge increases but the number of shells is the same. Thus the nuclear
attraction increases across the period as there is a stronger pull from the nucleus and
outer shell of electrons are held more tightly. Hence, atomic radii decreases moving
across the period. However, Ar is not chemically boned and is usually left out the
comparison.
MELTING AND BOILING POINTS

Na, Mg and Al are all metals and all

exhibit metallic bonding. This bonding

results from delocalized electrons being strongly

bonded to metal cations. More valence electrons

going across results in stronger metallic bonds,

hence higher melting points.

MP AND BP CTD.
Silicon has a giant molecular structure. This

structure requires a lot of energy to break which

results in its high melting point.

P, S and Cl are held together by weak Van der Waals

forces. Generally, larger molecules have a stronger

force hence the increase across the rest of the

period. ( S exists as S8, P as P4 and Cl as Cl2.

CONDUCTIVITY
Metals are good conductors of electricity. In

metallic bonding, the delocalized electrons act as

mobile charge carriers and are a pathway for

electricity. As the number of delocalized

electrons increase, so does conductivity which

explains the increase from Na to Al.

CONDUCTIVITY CTD’
Silicon is a metalloid and is covalently bonded. Few

of the electrons possess the energy to enter higher

energy levels at r.t.p.

P, S and Cl are non – metals. They are covalently

bonded and do not conduct electricity as the

electrons are used up in this bonding.

DENSITY

From Na to Si, the forces of attraction between atoms increase across the period
causing them to be packed closely together. This decrease in volume increases density
across these elements.

P, S and Cl are held together by weak Van der Waals forces. The molecules are not
close to each other causing a decrease in density across those elements.

Ar is held by extremely weak Van der Waals forces and have the smallest density.
REACTIONS OF ELEMENTS WITH WATER

Sodium reacts vigorously to form a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

2 Na (s) + 2H20 -----------‐> 2NaOH (aq) + H2(g)

Magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water but it reacts readily with steam
to form magnesium oxide.
Mg(s) + H2O (g) --------- MgO +H2(g)

Aluminium doesn’t react with hot or cold water but it reacts with steam.
2Al(s) +3H2O -------- Al2O3(s) + 3H2(g)
 REACTIONS WITH WATER CTD’

Silicon,phosphorus and sulphur do not react.They are insoluble in water.

Chlorine dissolves partially in water then reacts to form a mixture of

hydrochloric acid and chloric acid
REACTION OF ELEMENTS WITH OXYGEN
Sodium reacts vigorously when heated to form sodium oxide(Na2O)
2Na(s) + O2(g) ---- Na2O2(s)

Magnesium and aluminium react vigorously with oxygen to form oxides

2Mg(s) + O2 (g) --- MgO(s)
4Al(s) + 3O2(g) --- 2Al2O3(s)

Silicon reacts slowly with oxygen:

Si(s) + O2(g) --- SiO2
REACTION WITH OXYGEN CTD’
Phosphorus reacts vigorously with oxygen to form phosphorus (V) oxide
4 P (s) + 5O2(g) -- 2P2O5(s)

Sulphur burns steadily in oxygen

S(s) +O2 -- SO2

Chlorine and argon do not combine directly with oxygen.

REACTION OF ELEMENTS WITH CHLORINE

All period 3 elements react with Cl except Argon

Sodium,magnesium and aluminium react vigorously to form NaCl,MgCl2 and

AlCl3 respectively. The reactions are as follows:
OXIDATION STATES OF PERIOD 3 OXIDES

The oxides in Perod 3 all exist in Positive oxidation states (this is due to
oxygen’s higher electronegativity than any of the Period 3 elements).

The maximum oxidation states increases across the period,this is due to the
ability of the elements to use all the electrons in their outermost shell.
The maximum oxidation states of the Period 3 elements are as follows:
OXIDATION STATES OF PERIOD 3 CHLORIDES
The chlorides of Period 3 elements exists in positive oxidation states (This is
because chlorine is more electronegative than these elements).

The oxidation states of the chlorides show a similar pattern rising to +5 in

PCl5.Jowever themaximum oxidation state of sulphur is +2.
The oxidation rate of perod 3 chlorides are as follows:
REACTIONS OF OXIDES WITH WATER

Period 3 oxides includes: Na2O, MgO, Al2O3, SiO2, P4O10, SO3 and Cl2O7.

The oxides of sodium and magnesium react with water to form hydroxides:
Na2O(s) + H2O (l) --------> 2NaOH(aq)
Na2O dissolves readily in water to form an alkaline solution .

MgO(s) + H2O(l) -----------> Mg(OH) (aq)

MgO is only slightly soluble in water to form an alkaline solution.
.

Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) does not dissolve in water. It is, however, it is

amphoteric and has both acidic and basic properties.

SiO2 is insoluble in water but like Al2O3 reacts with hot alkali. SiO2 is an acidic
oxide therefore it does not react with acids.

Oxides of P,S and Cl are all acidic oxides. They react with water to form acidic
solutions and with alkalis to form salts .
SO2(g) + H2O(l) -----------> H2SO3 (aq)
SO3(g)+H2O(l) ----------->H2SO4 (aq)
P4O6(g) +6H2O(l) ---------> 4H3PI3(aq)
Cl2O7 (g) + H2O(l) ----------> 2HCLO4 (aq)
REACTIONS OF CHLORIDES WITH WATER

Period 3 chlorides includes: NaCl, MgCl2, AlCl3, SiCl4, PCl5, S2Cl2 and PCl3.

Chlorides of sodium and magnesium and hydrated aluminum chloride dissolve in

water because they are ionic.

Anhydrous aluminum chloride behaves different to hydrated aluminum chloride.

Aluminum chloride solution is hydrolysed by water to form an acidic solution
Chlorides of Si and P are hydrolysed by water to form acidic solutions.
SiCl4 (l) + 2H2O (l) ------> SiO2 (s) 4HCl(g)

SiCl4 reacts violently with water producing Si02 and HCl gas. In excess water, the
HCL gas dissolves to give a strong acidic solution containing hydrochloric acid.

PCl5 (s) + 4H2O(l) ----> H3PO4 (aq) + HCl (g)

PCl5 reacts violently with water, producing H3PO4 and HCl gas. Simlarly, in excess
water, the HCl gas dissolves to give a hydrochloric acid solution.
 TYPE OF BONDS IN OXIDES AND CHLORIDES

The change in bonding character from ionic to covalent in the oxide and chloride
follows the decreasing difference in electronegativity between that of the period
3 element and oxygen.
Element Sodium Magnesium Aluminum Silicon Phosphorus Sulphur Chlorine Argon
.
Bonding and Ionic Ionic lattice Ionic lattice solid Solid covalent covalent -
structure of oxides lattice covalent covalent small small
giant small gaseous gas/liquid
structure molecule molecules molecules
electronegativity 2.51 2.13 1.83 1.54 1.25 0.86 0.28 -
difference X-O (O is Na+ O2- Mg2+ O2- Al3+ O2- Siδ+-Oδ- Pδ+-Oδ- Sδ+-Oδ- Clδ+-Oδ-
3.44) nature of bond or O22-

bonding and Ionic Ionic lattice ionic covalent liquid covalent small -
structure of lattice lattice, small liquid covalent small liquid diatomic
chlorides readily molecules small molecules gaseous
vaporises to molecules molecule
covalent
dimer
molecules
Al2Cl6
electronegativity 2.23 1.85 1.55 1.26 1.25 0.58 0.00 -
difference X-Cl (Cl Na+ H- Mg2+ Cl- Al3+ Cl- Siδ+-Clδ- Pδ+-Clδ- Sδ+-Clδ- Cl-Cl
is 3.16) nature of
bond