Module 3
Module 3
Module 3
6
GROUP 2, THE ALKALINE EARTH METALS
Trends in size, first ionization energy and electronegativity
Trends in reaction with water
Trends in solubility of group 2 sulphates and hydroxides
a)
atomic size
On descending a group, the number of shells increases. Therefore the outer shells are
more shielded from the nucleus, are less closely held and move further away.
Therefore the size of the atoms increases down group II.
b)
On descending a group, the number of shells increases. Therefore the outer shells are
more shielded from the nucleus, are less closely held and are easier to remove.
Therefore the first ionisation energies of the atoms decrease down group II.
c)
electronegativities
On descending a group, the number of shells increases. Therefore the outer shells are
more shielded from the nucleus and bonded pairs of electrons are less strongly held.
Therefore the electronegativies of the atoms decrease down group II.
2.
The stronger the metallic bonding, the harder it is to separate the cations. This means that
the melting point and hardness are higher if the metallic bonding is strong.
On descending a group, the size of the cations increases and the charge on the cations
remains constant. The charge density thus decreases and the attraction between the
cations and the delocalized electrons also decreases. The melting points and hardness
therefore decrease.
In fact, there are discrepancies between magnesium and calcium and between strontium
and barium. This is due to the change in crystal structure, which affects the distance
between the ions and thus the strength of the metallic bonding. Be and Mg have hcp
structures, Ca and Sr have fcc structures and Ba has a bcc structure.
Element
Be (hcp)
Mg (hcp)
Ca (fcc)
Sr (fcc)
Ba (bcc)
Size of
cation/nm
0.027
0.072
0.100
0.113
0.136
Tm/oC
1278
649
839
769
725
The overall trend is for melting points and boiling points to decrease down group II.
All group II elements will conduct electricity because the delocalised electrons are free to
move throughout the solid.
3.
Mg does not react with water but reacts with steam. Since Mg(OH)2 actually
decomposes at high temperatures into the oxide, MgO is the main product when
magnesium reacts with steam:
Mg(s) + H2O(g) MgO(s) + H2(g)
Calcium reacts steadily with cold water. The solution goes cloudy as the
hydroxide is not very soluble:
Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) Ca(OH)2(s) + H2(g)
Strontium and barium react vigorously with cold water, barium even more
vigorously than strontium:
Sr(s) + 2H2O(l) Sr(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
Ba(s) + 2H2O(l) Ba(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
ii)