GROUPS 2 & 7

BY NADINE ELLIS-HALL
OBJECTIVES
 Students should be able to:
◦ explain the variations in properties of the elements
in terms of structure and bonding

◦ describe the reactions of the elements with oxygen,

water, and dilute acids

◦ explain the variation in the solubility of the sulfates

◦ explain the variation in the thermal decomposition

of the carbonates and nitrates
OBJECTIVES
◦ discuss the uses of some of the compounds of
magnesium and calcium

◦ explain the variations in physical properties of the

elements in terms of structure and bonding

◦ explain the relative reactivities of the elements as

oxidising agents

◦ describe the reactions of the elements with

hydrogen
OBJECTIVES
◦ explain the relative thermal stabilities of the
hydrides

◦ describe the reactions of the halide ions with:(a)

aqueous solution of AgNO3 followed by aqueous
ammonia; and, (b) concentrated sulfuric acid

◦ describe the reactions of chlorine with cold and hot

aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide
Group 2 Physical Properties
 Atomic radius increases as the group is
descended

 Ionic radius increases as the group is

descended

 Ionisation energy decreases as the group is

descended
Group 2 Chemical Reactions
 Reactions with oxygen produces metallic oxide

 Reactions with water produces metallic

hydroxide and hydrogen

 Reaction with dilute acids produces salt and

hydrogen

 Rate of the reaction will increase as the group

is descended
Group 2 Sulphates solubilities
 Solubility decreases as the group is
descended.

 Lattice energy is inversely proportional to the

sum of the radius of the cation and anion

 Hydration energy decreases as the group is

descended
Group 2 Thermal decomposition
 Thermal stability of carbonates increases
down the group

 Thermal stabilities of nitrates increases down

the group

 Smaller cations form bonds with greater

covalency
Uses of some Group 2 compounds
 Magnesium oxide used as refractory lining in
furnaces

 Calcium oxide used to make cement, mortar, drying

agents and calcium hydroxide

 Calcium hydroxide used to neutralize acidic soil, used

to make mortar, bleaching powder and limewater

 Calcium carbonate used as limestone blocks,

removing silicon dioxide and making cement.
Group 7 Physical properties
NAME STATE COLOUR

FLUORINE Gas Pale Yellow

CHLORINE Gas Yellow-Green

BROMINE Liquid Orange-Brown

IODINE Solid Purple-Gray

ASTATINE Solid Black

Group 7 Oxidizing property
 Oxidizing power decreases as the group is descended

 The stronger the oxidizing agent the more positive

the electrode potential

 Fluorine is the most powerful oxidizing agent with

the most positive electrode potential

 Fluorine, chlorine and bromine oxidize thiosulphate

ions to sulphate ions, iodine oxidize thiosulphate
ions to tetrathionate ions.
Group 7 reaction with hydrogen
 Halogens react with hydrogen to produce
hydrogen halides

 Fluorine reacts explosively even at very low

temperature

 Chlorine reacts slowly in the dark but

explosively in sunlight
Group 7 reaction with hydrogen
 Bromine reacts slowly at high temperature in
the presence of a catalyst

 Iodine reacts slowly and reversibly with very

low yield.
Group 7 hydrides thermal stabilities
 Thermal stability decreases as the group
descended

 Bond energy decreases as the bond length

increases
Reactions of Halide ions
HALIDES SILVER NITRATE CONC. SULPHURIC
ACID
FLUORIDE No observable change Hydrogen fluoride gas
produced
CHLORIDE White ppt dissolves in Hydrogen chloride gas
ammonia. Ppt turns produced
grey rapidly
BROMIDE Cream ppt dissolves in Hydrogen bromide gas
ammonia. Ppt turns and bromine
grey slowly
IODIDE Yellow ppt does not Small amount of
dissolve in ammonia. hydrogen iodide and
iodine
Chlorine with sodium hydroxide
 Cold dilute sodium hydroxide produces sodium
chloride, sodium chlorate (I) and water
 Chlorine is oxidized to +1 and reduced to -1

 Hot concentrated sodium hydroxide produces

sodium chloride, sodium chlorate (V) and water.
 Chlorine is oxidized to +5 and reduced to -1

 These are disproportionation reactions as

chlorine is both oxidized and reduced