GROUP 2

4.1 Physical Properties of Group 2

© Group 2 are also known as alkali earth metal. The elements of Group 2 and some basic physical
properties are described as below

Atomic Melting 1st ionisation

Name , symbol Z Electronic configuration
radius/ nm point (oC) energy (kJ/mol)

Beryllium Be 4 0.112 1287 900 1s2 2s2

MagnesiumMg 12 0.160 650 738 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2

Calcium
20 0.197 842 590 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2
Ca

Strontium Sr 38 0.215 777 550 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 5s2

Barium, 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6
56 0.218 727 503
Ba 6s2
4.1.1 Atomic radius

• Atomic radius depend on 2 factors

– Nuclear charge – Screening effect

• When going down to Group 2, both screening effect and nuclear charge increase. However,
the increase in screening effect is more significant, as more shell is used to filling in the
electrons. This will cause the effective nuclear charge to decrease, resulting the electron
cloud to be further away from the nucleus. Hence atomic radius increase.

4.1.2 Melting point

• The melting point of the Group 2 generally decrease when goes down to group.
• All the elements occur as hexagonal closed-packed structures with the exception of barium and
radium, which adopt the more open body-centred cubic structure. The density decreases from Be to
Mg to Ca as a result of very strong metallic bonding in the Group 2 elements, which leads to short
metal–metal distances in the lighter elements (225 pm in beryllium, for instance) and as a result
small unit cells.
4.1.3 Ionisation Energy.

The 1st ionisation energy decrease when goes down to Group 2.

Atomic size when goes down to Group 2 which contribute the decrease in ionisation energy.
Furthermore, with the increase in atomic size, the number of shell also increase thus causing the
screening effect to increase. This may also affected the effective nuclear charge as the distance
between the electron and the nucleus is getting further.
The third ionisation energy of Group 2 elements are extremely high, which suggested that the 3rd
electron the withdrawn from an inner shell. Thus Group 2 elements only goes through 2nd
ionisation energy and form a stable M .
2+

First Ionisation energy : M (g)  M (g) + e

+ -

Second Ionisation energy : M+ (g)  M2+ (g) + e-

Element Be Mg Ca Sr Ba

1st IE (kJ/mol) 900 740 590 550 500

2nd IE (kJ/mol) 2700 2190 1740 1610 1470

4.2 Chemical Properties of Group 2

✓ Table below shows the E0 value of Group 2 elements, When going down to Group 2, E0 value
become more negative, indicates the reducing ability increase when going down to group,
hence stronger reducing agent.
✓ This may also indicates the reactivity increase when going down to Group 2. Henceforth, we
shall discuss the reactivity of Group 2 elements with air (oxygen) and water.

Element Be Mg Ca Sr Ba

Eo / V - 1.85 -2.37 -2.87 -2.89 - 2.90

Trend of reducing agent Reducing strength

  increased
4.2.1 Reaction of Group 2 elements with oxygen (air).
➢ The Group 2 elements react with O2 to form the oxides. All the elements except Be
also form unstable peroxides (MO2). The oxides of Mg to Ra react with water to
form the basic hydroxides while BeO and Be(OH)2 are amphoteric
▪ When BeO act as base : BeO + 2 H+ → Be2+ + H2O
▪ When BeO act as acid : BeO + 2 OH- + H2O → Be(OH)42-
▪ When Be(OH)2 act as base : Be(OH)2 + 2 H+ → Be2+ + 2 H2O
▪ When Be(OH)2 act as acid : Be(OH)2 + 2 OH- → Be(OH)42-

➢ On its nature, Beryllium is inert in air as its surface is passivated by the formation of
a thin layer of BeO. Magnesium and calcium metals also tarnish in air with the
formation of an oxide layer, but will burn completely to their oxides when heated.
Strontium and barium, especially in powdered forms, ignite in air and are stored
under hydrocarbon oils
• The oxides of the other Group 2 elements can be obtained by direct combination of the elements
(except Ba, which forms the peroxide)
•
Element Reaction with oxygen Reactivity Melting point of oxide

Be 2 Be + O2  2 BeO

INCREASE
INCREASE
Mg 2 Mg + O2  2 MgO
Ca 2 Ca + O2  2 CaO    
Sr Sr + O2  SrO2
Ba Ba + O2  BaO2

• Their melting points decrease down the group as the lattice enthalpies decrease with increasing cation
radius. Magnesium oxide is a high-melting-point solid (as is BeO) and is used as a refractory lining
in industrial furnaces. Like BeO, MgO has a high thermal conductivity coupled with a low electrical
conductivity. This combination of properties leads to its use as an electrically insulating material
around the heating elements of domestic appliances and in electrical cables
• The peroxides of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba are prepared by a variety of routes; only SrO 2 and BaO2 can be
made by direct reaction of the elements. All the peroxides are strong oxidizing agents and decompose
to the oxide:
2 MO2 (s) → 2 MO(s) + O2 (g)

Special note :
*The thermal stability of the peroxides increases down the group as the radius of the cation increases.
This trend is explained by considering the lattice enthalpies of the peroxide and the oxide, and their
dependence on the relative radii of the cations and anions. As O 2– is smaller than O22–, the lattice
enthalpy of the oxide is greater than that of the corresponding peroxide. The difference between the
two lattice enthalpies decreases down the group as both values become smaller with increasing cation
radius, therefore the tendency to decompose decreases. Magnesium peroxide, MgO 2, is consequently
the least stable peroxide
4.2.1.1 Reaction of Group 2 oxide with water : Properties of Group
2 hydroxide
✓ Beryllium oxide, BeO, is a white solid, which is insoluble in water, with
coordination number of 4, as expected for the small Be ion. The oxides of
2+

the other Group 2 elements all adopt coordination number of 6. This is due to
Beryllium does not have empty d-orbital available to coordinate more than 8
electrons at its center, while other Group 2 elements have.
✓ Magnesium oxide is insoluble but reacts slowly with water to form
Mg(OH)2; likewise CaO reacts with water to form the partially soluble
Ca(OH)2.
✓ The oxides of Sr and Ba, SrO and BaO, dissolve in water to form the
strongly basic hydroxide solutions:
BaO(s) + H2O (l) → Ba (aq) + 2OH (aq)
2+ -
 Reaction of metal oxide
Element Rate of formation of base
with water
Be no reaction / does not dissolve

Mg MgO + H2O ↔ Mg(OH)2

INCREASE
Ca CaO + H2O ↔ Ca(OH)2
 
Sr SrO + H2O  Sr(OH)2

Ba BaO + H2O  Ba(OH)2

4.2.1Reaction of Group 2 elements with water.
✓ All Group 2 react with water to from metal (II) hydroxide, M(OH)2, with hydrogen gas liberated
✓ The reactivity of Group 2 with water increase (as suggested by their E0 value). Beryllium react slowly
under hot steam to form a white precipitate of beryllium hydroxide. Magnesium reacts similarly as
beryllium does, however, compare to Be, the rate of reaction is higher.
✓ Magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2, is basic but only very sparingly soluble; beryllium hydroxide,
Be(OH)2, is amphoteric and in strongly basic solutions it forms the tetrahydroxyberyllate ion, Be(OH)4
✓ Calcium react slowly with water under room condition, to form a cloudy calcium hydroxide (also
known as lime water). Limewater is well known to test the presence of carbon dioxide, where CO2
will turn limewater chalky and form white precipitate of calcium carbonate, which then dissolved
when on further reaction with CO2 to form the hydrogencarbonate (also known as bicarbonate) ion
Ca(OH)2 (aq) + CO2 (g) → CaCO3 (s) + H2O (l)
CaCO3 (s) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g) → Ca(HCO3)2 (aq)
✓ Strontium and barium can react even in cold water to form a water soluble strong base of strontium
hydroxide and barium hydroxide respectively. However, rate of reaction of barium is greater than
strontium, hence more vigorous
 Condition of Rate of Ksp (mol dm
3 -
Element Reaction equation reaction Solubility
water 9
)

Be Hot steam Be + 2 H2O  Be(OH)2 + H2 6.92 x 10-22

INCREASE

INCREASE
Mg Hot steam Mg + 2H2O  Mg(OH)2 + H2 5.61 x 10 -12

Water at room
Ca temperature
Ca + 2 H2O  Ca(OH)2 + H2   5.50 x 10-6  

Sr Cold water Sr + 2 H2O  Sr(OH)2 + H2 7.24 x 10-6

Ba Cold water Ba + 2H2O  Ba(OH)2 + H2 2.54 x 10-4

 4.3 Thermal Decomposition of Nitrates and Carbonates
Group 2 carbonate Group 2 Nitrate
Element Decomposition
Formula temperature
Stability Formula Stability

Be BeCO3 1590C Be(NO3)2

INCREASE
INCREASE
Mg MgCO3 3500C Mg(NO3)2

Ca CaCO3 832 C0
  Ca(NO3)2  

Sr SrCO3 13400C Sr(NO3)2

Ba BaCO3 14500C Ba(NO3)2

• All nitrates of the Group 2 elements are decomposed by heat to form metal oxides, nitrogen dioxide and
oxygen gases.
2 M(NO3)2 (s)  2 MO (s) + 4 NO2 (g) + O2 (g)
• All carbonates of the alkaline-earth metals also decompose on heating, producing metal oxides and releasing
carbon dioxide gas.
MCO3 (s)  MO (s) + CO2 (g)
✓ The thermal stabilities of Group 2 nitrates and carbonates increase down the group from
beryllium to barium. This means that the temperature needed to decompose the nitrates and
carbonates increases down the group.
✓ The trend of decomposition for Group 2 nitrate and carbonate can be explained below
➢ Magnesium nitrate and magnesium carbonate decompose easily at low temperatures.
➢ This shows that the metal oxide is more stable than the nitrate and carbonate. This can be
explained by the fact that the size of the oxide ion, O , is smaller than that of the nitrate,
2-

NO3 , and carbonate, CO3 ions. As such, the oxide ion can approach closer to the Mg cation
- 2- 2+

forming a shorter and stronger bond

Magnesium nitrate, MgNO3 Magnesium nitrate, MgCO3

• Besides, magnesium ion has a high charge density ratio giving the ion a high polarisation power
To polarise the electron clouds of the nitrate and carbonate ions.
• The electron clouds of the NO3- ion and CO32- ion are easily distorted, rendering the nitrogen-
oxygen bonds in the NO3- ions and the carbon-oxygen bonds in the CO32- ions are weak and
easily broken.
• The smaller O2- ions are left attached to the magnesium ions.

2 Mg(NO3)2 (s)  2 MgO (s) + 4 NO2 (g) + O2 (g)

MgCO3 (s)  MgO (s) + CO2 (g)

• Barium nitrate and barium carbonate appear to be more stable than that of it's counterparts of the
magnesium. A higher temperature is needed to decompose the salts. This is because the large size
of the barium ion lowers the charge density ratio of the ion. The polarity of the ion depends
directly on this ratio. A lower charge density ratio means the cation is less polarising. When
barium ion approaches radius anion like NO3- ion and CO32- ion, the electron clouds of the anions
will not be as distorted as when bonded with the magnesium ion. The bonds between Ba-NO3
and Ba-CO3 are more ionic and are much stronger than that of Ba-O.
1.8Solubility of the Group 2 Sulphate

1. The solubility solubility of an ionic compound depends mainly on two factors:

a. lattice energy b. hydration energy

2. Heat of hydration is defined as the energy released when one mole of gaseous ions is
hydrated by water molecules to form an infinite dilute solution under standard condition.
For cation : M+ (g) + water  M+ (aq) ΔHhyd = – ve kJ/mol
For anion : X (g) + water  X (aq) ΔHhyd = – ve kJ/mol
- -

Hydration energy is always exothermic since it involves the attraction of ions in the solute for
water molecules. Similar to lattice energy, its magnitude depends on :
Charge of the ion – higher the charge, the greater the heat of hydration. This is due to more heat energy is
released as stronger bond are formed between the ion and molecules
Size of the ion – the smaller the ion, the greater the heat of hydration ; the more heat released
 Ion Be2+ Mg2+ Ca2+ Sr2+ Ba2+

Charge density 64.5 30.8 20.2 17.7 14.8

ΔHhyd (kJ / mol) –2486 –1925 –1577 –1446 –1308

3 The lattice energy of a crystalline substance refers to the amount of energy released when one mole of the
ionic substance is produced from its ions in the gaseous state.
M+ (g) + X- (g)  MX (s) ΔH = Lattice energy = – ve kJ/mol
In a lattice that consists of cations and anions with charges Z+ and Z– between ionic distance (r+ + r–), the
lattice energy can be expressed using the relation below.

So, higher the lattice energy (more negative or more exothermic), the more stable the ionic compound
formed, the more the energy required to break the strong electrostatic forces between the 2 opposite charged
ions.
4.All sulphates of Group 2 elements are white crystalline and non-deliquescent solids. The
solubility of these sulphates decrease down the group. Magnesium sulphate is soluble in
water, calcium sulphate is slightly soluble and barium sulphate is insoluble.

5.This can be explained using the standard enthalpy of solution, ΔH soln, where it is defined as
the heat absorbed or released when one mole of crystal lattice is dissolved in
water to form ionic aqueous solution under standard condition.

MX (s)  M (aq) + X (aq)

+ -
ΔHsoln = + / – kJ / mol

If the ΔHsoln, is positive, the salt will be insoluble in water & if ΔHsoln, is negative, it is
soluble in water
6. Using Hess Law, the relationship between ΔHsoln, ΔHhyd, and LE can be explained
using the chart below

M X (s) M (aq) + X (aq)

+ -

negative
M (g) + X (g)
+ -

7. A salt is soluble in water if its ΔHsolution is negative or exothermic. This happens

when the salt has a high hydration energy and a low lattice energy. The more
negative the enthalpy of solution, the more soluble will be the salt.
8. (a) The solubility of the sulphates decreases down Group 2 because the hydration energies of the ions
decrease more rapidly than the lattice energies with increasing ionic size in the order Mg 2+<Ca2+< Sr2+<
Ba2+

(b) The lattice energies of the Group 2 sulphates decrease relatively slower because the magnitude
depends on (r+ + r –). The anion radius (r–) for sulphate ion, SO42–, is too big compare to the cation radius
(r+).

(c) As a results, the overall (r+ + r –). does not show any signifcant increase down the group. The lattice
energy does not decrease very much from magnesium sulphate to barium sulphate.

9. On the other hand, the small size of the magnesium ion plus its high charge result in a lot of heat being
released as hydration energy. This hydration energy decreases rapidly down the group from magnesium
ion to barium ion because there is a significant increase in the size of the cations down the group. The
resulting enthalpy of solution for barium sulphate becomes less negative compared to that of magnesium
sulphate. Consequently, the solubility decreases down the group in the order:

BeSO4 > MgSO4 > CaSO4 > SrSO4 > BaSO4

Group 2 sulphate Be SO4 Mg SO4 Ca SO4 Sr SO4 Ba SO4

ΔHsolution (kJ / mol) -95.3 -91.2 + 17.8 + 18.70 +19.4

Solubility
41.0 36.4 0.21 0.010 0.00025
(g / 100mL)

∆Hhydration
∆Hlattice energy

BeSO4 Mg SO4 CaSO4 Sr SO4 BaSO4

4.5 Application of Group 2 elements and compounds
4.5.1Beryllium and its compound
• Beryllium is unreactive in air on account of a passivating layer of an inert oxide film
on its surface, which makes it very resistant to corrosion. This inertness, combined
with the fact that it is one of the lightest metals, results in its use in alloys to make
precision instruments, aircraft, and missiles.
• It is highly transparent to X-rays due to its low atomic number (and thus electron
count) and is used for X-ray tube windows.
• Beryllium is also used as a moderator for nuclear reactions (where it slows down
fast-moving neutrons through inelastic collisions) because the beryllium nucleus is a
very weak absorber of neutrons and the metal has a high melting point.
• As beryllium oxide is extremely toxic and carcinogenic by inhalation and soluble
beryllium salts are mildly poisonous, the industrial applications of beryllium
compounds are limited; BeO is used as an insulator in high-power electrical devices
where high thermal conductivity is also necessary
4.5.2 Magnesium and its compound

• Most of the applications of elemental magnesium are based on the formation of light alloys, especially with
aluminium, that are widely used in construction in applications where weight is an issue, such as aircraft. A
magnesium–aluminium alloy was previously used in warships but was discovered to be highly flammable
when subjected to missile attack.

• Some of the uses of magnesium are based on the fact that the metal burns in air with an intense white flame,
and so it is used in fireworks and flares.

• Various applications of magnesium compounds include ‘Milk of Magnesia’, Mg(OH) 2, which is a common
remedy for indigestion, and ‘Epsom Salts’, MgSO4.7H2O, which is used for a variety of health treatments,
including as a treatment for constipation, a purgative, and a soak for sprains and bruises.

• Magnesium and calcium are of great biological importance. Magnesium is a component of chlorophyll but also
it is coordinated by many other biologically important ligands, including ATP (adenosine triphosphate). It is
essential for human health, being responsible for the activity of many enzymes. The recommended adult
human dose is approximately 0.3 g per day and the average adult contains about 25 g of magnesium
• Magnesium oxide, MgO, is used as a refractory lining for furnaces. Organo-magnesium compounds are widely
used in organic synthesis as Grignard reagents
4.5.3 Calcium and its compound

• The compounds of calcium are much more useful than the element itself. Calcium oxide (as lime or
quicklime) is a major component of mortar and cement. It is also used in steelmaking and
papermaking.
• Calcium sulfate dihydrate, CaSO4.2 H2O is widely used in building materials, such as plasterboard,
and anhydrous CaSO4 is a common drying agent.
• Calcium carbonate is used in the Solvay process for the production of sodium carbonate and as the
raw material for production of CaO.
• Calcium fluoride is insoluble and transparent over a wide range of wavelengths. It is used to make
cells and windows for infrared and ultraviolet spectrometers.
 
4.5.4 Strontium and its compound

• Strontium is used in pyrotechnics phosphors, and in glasses for the now rapidly declining market for
colour television tubes.
4.5.6 Barium and its compound
• Barium compounds, taking advantage of the large number of electrons of each Ba2+
ion, are very effective at absorbing X-rays: they are used as ‘barium meals’ and
‘barium enemas’ to investigate the intestinal tract. Barium is highly toxic, so the
insoluble sulfate is used in this application.

• Barium carbonate is used in glassmaking and as a flux to aid the flow of glazes and
enamels. It is also used as rat poison.

• Barium sulphide (BaS) has been used as a depilatory, to remove unwanted body hair.
• Barium sulphate (BaSO4) is pure white, with no absorption in the visible region of the
electromagnetic spectrum, and it is used as a reference standard in UV-visible
spectroscopy. Soon after its discovery, radium was used to treat malignant tumours;
its compounds are still used as precursors for radon used in similar applications.
• Luminous radium paint was once widely used on clock and watch faces but has been
replaced by less hazardous compounds.
4.6 The anomalous properties of beryllium

• The small size of Be2+ (ionic radius 27 pm) and its consequent high charge density and polarising
power results in the compounds of Be being largely covalent; the ion is a strong Lewis acid. The
coordination number most commonly observed for this small atom is 4 and the local geometry
tetrahedral.
• Some consequences of these properties are:
➢ A significant covalent contribution to the bonding in compounds such as the beryllium halides BeCl 2,
BeBr2, and BeI2 and the hydride, BeH2.
➢ A greater tendency to form complexes, with the formation of molecular compounds such as
Be4O(O2CCH3)6.
➢ Hydrolysis (deprotonation) of beryllium salts in aqueous solution, forming species such as
[Be(H2O)3OH]+ and acidic solutions. Hydrated beryllium salts tend to decompose by hydrolysis
reactions, where beryllium oxo- or hydroxo salts are formed, rather than by the simple loss of water.
➢ Beryllium forms many stable organometallic compounds, including methylberyllium (Be(CH 3)2),
ethylberyllium, t-butylberyllium.
• Another important general feature of Be is its strong diagonal relationship with Al:

✓ Both Be and Al form covalent hydrides and halides; the analogous compounds of the other
Group 2 elements are predominantly ionic.

✓ The oxides of Be and Al are amphoteric whereas the oxides of the rest of the Group 2
elements are basic.

✓ In the presence of excess OH– ions, Be and Al form [Be(OH)4]2– and [Al(OH)4]–, respectively,
however, no equivalent chemistry is observed for Mg.

✓ Both elements form structures based on linked tetrahedra: Be forms structures built from
[BeO4] and [BeX4] tetrahedra (X = halide) and Al forms numerous aluminates and
n- n-

aluminosilicates containing the [AlO4] unit.

n-