Alkali and Alkaline earth metals

Alkali and Alkaline earth metals

• Elements represented by the electronic configuration ns1
and ns2 are called S-block
• IA group consists Li, Na ,K Rb, Cs Fr are metallic in nature
and are known as Alkali metals because their Hydroxides are
strong basic nature
• IIA group consists Be, Mg ,Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra are metallic in
nature. These are Know as Alkali earth metals because
oxides of these metals were called alkaline earth as they
existed in the earth and were alkaline in nature.
 Alkali and Earth metals Atomic no and electron configuration

Symbol Atomic No E.C. Element Symbol Atomic No E.C.

Element
Li 3 [He] 2S1 Beryllium Be 4 [He] 2S2
Lithium
Na 11 [Ne] 3S1 MagnesiumMg 12 [Ne] 3S2
Sodium
K 19 [Ar] 4S1 Calcium Ca 20 [Ar] 4S2
Potassium
Rb 37 [Kr] 5S1 Strontium Sr 38 [Kr] 5S2
Rubidium
Cs 55 [Xe] 6S1 Barium Ba 56 [Xe] 6S2
Caesium
Fr 87 [Rn] 7S1 Radium Ra 88 [Rn] 7S2
Francium
 General trends of these Elements
o Physical Properties
• The atomic and ionic radii of alkali and alkaline earth metals
are largest in their respective periods. The atomic radii
increases on moving down the group from top to bottom.
• Density of alkali and alkaline earth metals have low due to
their large atomic size.
• Density increases on going down the group.
• The first I.P of IA,IIA group is very low as compared with the
other elements of the same period.
 Cont..

• On account of low I.P. these elements more electropositive and

metals . The metallic character increases down the group.
• IA, IIA group elements exhibits an oxidation state of +1, +2
• IA, IIA group elements are very good reducing agents B/C they
tendency to lose electron. The reducing character increases
down the group.
• M.P & B.P of IA,IIA group elements very low due to weak
cohesive forces.
• IA,IIA group elements exhibits photoelectric effect due to their
low I.P. K, Cs are used as cathodes in photoelectric cells.
 Cont..
o Flame coloration
• Alkali and earth metals impart characteristic colors to flame
when they are heated in a Bunsen burner flame
Li = Red
Ca = Brick red
Na = Golden Yellow
Sr = Crimson red
K = pale yellow
Ba = Apple green
Rb = Violet
Cs = Blue
o Occurrences and extraction of Alkali metals
• Alkali metals are highly reactive metals, they don’t occur in
free state in nature.
• Na and K is 6th and 7th position of more abundant in the
earth crust
 Cont..

o Ores of sodium (Na) o Ores of Potassium (K)

• Common salt or rock salt NaCl • Carnallite KCl.MgCl2.6H2O

• Chile saltpeter NaNO3 • Feldsoar KAlSi3O8

• Albite (soda feldspar) NaAlSi3O8 • Syslvine KCl.

• Borex.Na2B4O7.10H2O
o Extraction of Sodium (Down’s process)
o Sodium obtained in this method by the electrolysis of a

mixture NaCl (40%) and CaCl2 (60%)

o The function of CaCl2 is to lower the operating temperature

from 1080K (M.P of NaCl) to about 850K

 Cont
• The following reaction takes place
NaCl Na+ + Cl- ( Ionization)
At cathode Na+ + e- Na
At Anode 2 Cl- Cl2 + 2e-
• Sodium obtained by this process is 99% pure. Chlorine is the
by product in this process.
o Uses of sodium
• Synthesis of organic compound (reduction reactions)
• Sodium amalgam (NaHg) used as reducing agent
• Dye industry and in nuclear reactor as a medium for
transmitting heat
 Occurrence and Extraction of Ca and Mg
o Ores of calcium o Ores of magnesium
• Gypsum CaSO4.2H2O • Magnesite MgSO4.
• Fluorspar CaF2 • Carnallite KCl. MgCl.6H2O
• Dolomite CaCO3.MgCO3 • Kieserite MgSO4.H2O

o calcium extracted by electrolysis of a fused mixture of Any

CaCl2 and CaF2 of passing electric current, Calcium liberated at

cathode
CaCl2 Ca2+ + 2Cl- …..(Ionization)
Ca2+ + 2e- Ca (at cathode)
2Cl- Cl2 + 2e- (at anode)
 Cont…

o Magnesium is extracted by electrolysis of a molten mixture of

any MgCl2, NaCl and CaCl2

MgCl2 Mg2+ + 2Cl-…. (Ionization)

Mg2+ + 2e- Mg ( at cathode)
2Cl- Cl2 + 2e- (at anode)
o Chemical properties
o The alkali and earth metals are highly reactive elements
o The reactivity of elements increases down the group
o These elements react with hydrogen to form hydrides

2M + H2 2MH (2M= IA,M=IIA)

 Cont…

o Alkaline metals more reactive than alkaline earth metals

• The hydrides of alkali metals react with water to form
corresponding hydroxide and hydrogen
LiH + H2O LiOH + H2
NaH + H2O NaOH + H2
• The hydrides are strong reducing agents and their reducing
nature increases down the group
• Alkali metals also form complex hydrides such as LiAlH4,NaBH4
which also good reducing agents
4 LiH + AlCl3 LiAlH4 + 3LiCl
4 NaH + B( OCH3)3 NaBH4 + 3NaOCH3
• All alkali and alkaline earth metals react with water and oxygen
to form M2O and MO types of oxides
 Some Important compounds of IIA group elements
1. Berilium hydride(BeH2)
• It is white non volatile solid which decompose at 125oC
• Soluble in ether and decomposed by water with evolution of
hydrogen
BeH2 +2H2O Be(OH)2 +2H2

2. Calcium carbide (CaC2)

• It is prepared when a mixture if lime and coke is heated in an
electric arc furnace at temp of 20000C
CaO + 3C CaC2 + CO
• It is used in production of acetylene, calcium cyanamide,
 Cont...
Diagonal R/ships in the periodic Table
o On moving diagonally across a period in the periodic
table, some elements show certain similarities.
• These are usually weaker than the similarities within
a group, but are quit pronounced in the following
pairs of elements

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 Cont...
o Both Li and Mg have the following properties in common

• Directly form the nitride and carbide e.g. Li3N, Mg3N2

• Both nitrides gives NH3 when dissolved in water

Li3N + 3H2O NH3 + 3LiOH

Mg3N2 + 6H2O 2NH3 + 3Mg(OH)2

• Combust in air to form normal oxides, Li2O and MgO (sodium forms

mostly the peroxide Na2O2)

• form less stable oxysalts, (e.g. Li2CO3, and MgCO3) which give Li2O and

MgO on heating; while, Na2CO3 is stable to moderate heating.

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 Cont...
• Li+ and Mg2+ form complex with ammonia and other donor
ligands, than Na+ and Ca2+ ions.
• Form covalent organometallic compounds
o Similarly, even if Al3+ is larger than Be2+, they share the
following common chemistry
• dissolve in non-oxidizing acids (such as HCl) or alkalis with
liberation of hydrogen gas

2Al3++ 6HCl 2AlCl3+ 3H2

Be2+ + 2HCl BeCl2+ H2

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 Cont...

• Both Al3+ and Be2+ combine with carbon to form carbides

i.e. Al4C3, Be2C

• Both hydrides hydrolysis with water to gives Methane

Al4C3 +12H2O 3CH4+ 4Al(OH)3

Be2C +H2O CH4 + 2Be(OH)2

• form polymeric hydrides, chlorides and alkyls.

o Generally, diagonal similarities are most important
among the lighter elements
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 Cont...

5. Polarizing Power and Polarizability; Fajans’ Rules

o When two ions A+ and B- are brought together to their

equilibrium distance, the type of bond formed b/n

them depends on the effect of one ion on the other.
• The positive ion attracts the electrons on the negative
ion and repels the nucleus, thus distorting or
polarizing the negative ion (polarizing power).

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 Cont...

o The extent of distortion depends on both the power of

an ion to distort the other ion (i.e. its polarizing
power), and the susceptibility of an ion to distortion
(its polarizability).
• Generally, the polarizing power increases as ions
become smaller and more highly charged.
• Large negative ions are more polarizable than the small
one.
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 Cont...

o These principles are formulated by K. Fajans’ (Fajans’

rule)
• According to Fajans’ rule, covalent bonding is favored
by higher positive cation ions, higher negative anion
ions, smaller cation or larger anion.
• Those containing low positive chare on the cation, low
negative charge on the anion, larger cation or smaller
anion shows ionic character
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