Cambridge International AS Level Chemist oy ‘The elements in Group 2 of the Periodic Table are sometimes referred to as the As they are in Group 2, the elements have atoms whose electronic configurations end with two electrons in their outermost principal quantum shell. These two outer electrons occupy an ssubshell. Here are the electronic configurations ofthe first five elements in Group 2: Beryllium (Be) 1s°25* Magnesium (Mg) 1s#2s'2p%3s? Calcium (Ca) 1s#2s*2p®3s23p%4s? Strontium (St) 1s22s?2p%3s*3p%3d?4s"4p%5s? Barium (Ba) 1s!2s!2p®3st3p%3d!4s'apd!"5°5p%6e One way of describing the size of an atom is its metallic radius, The metallic radius is half the distance between the nuclei in a giant metallic lattice (Figure 11.2). See page 149 for other measures that describe the size ofatoms. Figure 11.2 The metallic radius gives us a measure of the size of the atoms of metallic elements. Look at the metallic radi of the Group 2 elements, shown in Table 1.1, The atoms of Group 2 elements get larger going down the group as the outer two electrons occupy a new principal quantum shel further from the nucleus. oun! ee ea berylium (Be) 0122 magnesium (Mg 0.160 calcium (Ca) 0197 strontium (5 ozs barium (Ba) 027 Table 11.1 The metallic radii of the Group 2 elements. ‘There are also general trends in other physical properties, such as melting point and density, shown in Table 11.2 and Figures 11.3 and 11.4 ees Atomic | Melting | Density Sood number | point /*c | / gem? beryllium (Be) magnesium (Mg 2 650 174 calcium (Ca) 2 838 155 strontium (S4 38 768 26 barium (Ba) 56 m4 35 Table 11.2 The melting points and densities of the Group 2 elements.Caceres) ea = 1000 £ 2 500 o4 2 2% 38 36 Be Mg se Ba ‘Momic number Figure 11.3 Melting points of the Group 2elements, ‘ as e 2 31 o of 2 » 2 3 fe My s ta Aomicrumber Figure 11.4 Densities of the Group 2 elements. Cron 1a Lookat Figure1.3 1 Whatis the general tend in the melting points going down Group 2? Which element breaks the trend? 'b Explain why the atomsin Group2, asin any other group, get larger with increasing atomic number. ‘€ Would you expect the2+ ions of Group 2 elements tobe larger or smaller than their atoms? Explain yyouranswer. d_ Radium (Ra) isa radioactive element found below barium atthe bottom of Group 2. Predict: i itsmatting point i itsdensity Ii its metallicradius. Reactions of Group 2 elements ‘The Group 2 metals form ionic compounds. When they react, their atoms lose the two electrons from their outermost s subshell and form an ion with the stable electronic configuration of a noble gas. This creates a 2+ ion. For example, in the ionisation ofa magnesium atom to a magnesium ion: Mg —> Mg? + 2" callonnumier ‘The metals act as reducing agents. Their atoms give away electrons and so they are oxidised themselves as they react to form their 2+ ions. The ionisation energies shown in ‘Table 11.3 show how easily the two outer electrons are removed from the Group 2 atoms. Corry we element energy /kJmot | energy /kJmot beryllium (Be) 900 1760 ‘magnesium (Mg) 736 1450 calcium (Ca) 590 1150 strontium (Sr) 548 1060 barium (Ba 502 966 Table 11.3 The first and second ionisation energies of the Group 2 elements. ‘The metals in Group [Link] more reactive as we go down the ‘group. As you can see from Table 11.3 it takes less energy (eit gets easier) to remove the pair of outer electrons going down Group 2, So, although the positive charge con the nucleus increases down the group, the greater shielding effect provided by extra inner shells of electrons and the larger distance of the outermost electrons from the nucleus outweigh the attraction of the higher nuclear charge. This helps to explain the increase in reactivity going down the group, as it gets easier for the atoms to form their 2+ ions.Cambridge International AS Level Chemist eae neko ‘The Group 2 metals burn in air, and more rapidly in ‘oxygen, forming white solid oxides. For example, ‘magnesium ribbon burns with a bright white flame once ignited in a Bunsen flame (Figure 11.5} 2Mg{s) + 0,(¢) —> 2MgO(s) Figure 11.5 Magnesium ribbon reacting with oxygen inthe air. ‘The magnesium oxide formed is basic in character, as shown on page 156. Calcium oxide, CaO, reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide. If water is dripped. ‘onto the surface of a lump of calcium oxide it causes a vigorous reaction. It gives off so much heat that some of the water boils offs the solid lump appears to expand and cracks open: Ca0(s) + H,0(l) —> Ca(OH), (3) In excess water, some of the slightly soluble calcium hydroxide dissolves to form a weakly alkaline solution, The excess aqueous hydroxide ions in the solution resultin its pH of 11: a(oH),(s) "> ca*(aq) + 204-(aq) In general, the reaction and dissolving of the Group 2 metal oxides in water is described by the following ionic equation: (5) + H,0(l) —> 20H (aq) ‘The Group 2 metals get more reactive with oxygen going down the group. The larger atoms lose their outer two electrons more readily than the smaller atoms in the group. The reasons for this are given beneath Table 11.3, ‘The greater reactivity of barium metal is llustrated by the fact that it must be stored under oil to keep it out of contact with air. ‘Some of the Group 2 metals burn with characteristic flame colours. Itis the 2+ ions formed in the reaction that cause the colours. We can test for calcium, strontium and barium in compounds using flame tests. A nichrome wire, cleaned with concentrated hydrochloric acid, is dipped into a sample of the salt to be tested and heated in a non- luminous Bunsen flame: calcium compounds give a brick-reé colour strontium compounds give ascarlet/red colour barium compounds give an apple-green colour. ee nha) We have seen on page 155 how magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water but will eventually form a weakly alkaline solution: Mg(s) + 2H,0() —> Mg(OH),(aq) + H,(e) Hot magnesium does react vigorously with water in ‘the form of steam to make magnesium oxide and hydrogen gas (Figure 11.6): Mg(s) + H,O(g) —> MgO(s) + H,(e)Caceres) fee int ut cenun ls Figure 11.6 An experiment showing magnesium reacting with steam, The steam is given off from mineral wool soaked in water at the right-hand end ofthe test tube. The white magnesium oxide formed is visible inside the test tube and the hydrogen gas produced in the reaction has been ignited at the end of the straight tube. Calcium reacts more readily than magnesium with water: Ca(s) + 2H,0(l) —> Ca(OH),(aq) + H,(e) This reaction forms a cloudy white suspension of slightly soluble calcium hydroxide, The calcium hydroxide that does dissolve makes the solution weakly alkaline. The hydrogen gasis given off at a steady rate. Going down the group, hydrogen gasis released more and more rapidly by the reaction of the element with water (Figure 11.7) “The resulting solutions also get more alkaline going down the ‘group. We can explain this by looking at the solubility of the hydroxides formed (see Table 11.4). Their solubility Increases on going down Group 2. Therefore when adding and stirring magnesium hydroxide in water to make a saturated solution, then doing the same with barium hydroxide and water, there will be a higher concentration ‘of hydroxide ions in the case of the saturated barium hydroxide solution. This results in a higher pH value for the barium hydroxide solution. Gaeeues Figure 11.7 Barium reacting vigorously with water. Not all Group 2 compounds get more soluble on descending the group. For example, their sulfates become less soluble - so barium sulfate is much less soluble than magnesium sulfate. (Infact the test for sulfate ions, depends on the formation of a white precipitate of barium sulfate, produced when barium chloride solution is added toa solution of the compound being tested.) You can read more about the reasons why the Group 2 sulfates get less soluble going down the group on page 267 magnesium hydroxide, MeOH) calcium hydroxide, C (OH), strontium hydroxide, S(O), barium hydroxide, BalOH), 15x10? Table 11.4 Solubility of the Group 2 hydroxides in water,eae aed Res Poy Tae 2. a Writea balanced chemical equation, including state symbols, forthe reaction of strontium with oxygen strontium oxide with water Write a balanced chemical equation, including state symbols, forthe reaction of barium with water. Predict the pH of the solution formed in partbi. ‘€ Radium (Ra} isa radioactive element found below barium atthe bottom of Group 2. Predict: 1 the formula ofits ion the formula ofits oxide and hydroxide itsfirstionisation energy its reactivity compared with barium the relative pH ofits saturated hydroxide solution compared with a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide vi the solubility ofits sulfate compared with strontium sulfate. Using Table 114 and the relative atomic mass data on page 473, calculate the mass of calcium hydroxide that will dissolve in 50g of water at 298K. Reaction of Group 2 carbonates with water and with dilute acids The carbonates of magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium are al insoluble in water. However, they all react in dilute aci, forming a salt and water and giving off carbon dioxide gas. For example, with dilute sulfuric acid MgCO,() + H,SO aq) —> Mg8O,(ag) + H,00) + CO,(g) ‘The magnesium sulfate salt formed in the reaction above is soluble in water so remains in aqueous solution, and no solid will remain in excess dilute sulfuric acid, However, the sulfates ofthe other Group 2 elements tend to form an insoluble sulfate layer on the carbonate, preventing further reaction after the intial effervescence of carbon dioxide gas is seen. With dilute nitric acd, all the nitrate sats formed are soluble in water, For example: CaCO,(9) + 2HNO (aq) > Ca(NO)),(ag) + H,00) + COs) ‘The reactions with dilute hydrochloric acid also form soluble salts, the chlorides. For example: BaCO,(9) + 2HCKaq) —> BaCl, (ag) + H,0() + CO,(g) Thermal decomposition of Group 2 carbonates and nitrates ‘The carbonates and nitrates ofthe Group 2 elements decompose when heated. The carbonates break down to form the metal oxide and give off carbon dioxide gas. For example: MgCo,(9) “S Mgow) + Cog) “The temperature at which thermal decomposition takes place increases going down Group 2. “The Group 2 nitrates also undergo thermal decomposition. For example: 2Ca(NO,)(6) ““ 2Ca06) + 4NO,{g) + 0,18) A brown gas s observed when a Group 2 nitrate is heated. This is toxic nitrogen dioxide, NO, (nitrogen(IV) oxide). As with the carbonates, a higher temperature is needed to thermally decompose the nitrates as Group 2 is descended. You can read an explanation of the trend in the thermal stability ofthe Group 2 carbonates and nitrates, ‘on page 264. CEs 3. a Writea balanced symbol equation for the reaction ‘of barium carbonate with dilute nitric acid, b_ Which one ofthe three compounds listed will decompose at the lowest temperature? 1 calcium carbonate, strontium carbonate, barium carbonate barium nitrate, calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate € Writea balanced chemical equation, including state symbols, forthe thermal decomposition of: i strontium carbonate barium nitrate,Caceres) Some uses of Group 2 compounds We have just seen how the Group 2 carbonates decompose ‘on heating. Limestone is made up mainly of caleium carbonate. There are many types of limestone, which provide useful rocks for building. They can be shaped into blocks that can be stuck to each other using mortar. Previously this mortar was made using lime and sand. ‘Now it is more usual to use cement and sand, although the ‘cement is made from lime see below. Marble is another form of calcium carbonate used as a building material, for ‘example to make expensive tiles. However, most calcium carbonate is used to make ‘cement. The first stage in the manufacture of cement isthe roasting of limestone in alime kiln (Figure 11.8). At the high temperatures in the kiln, calcium carbonate decomposes to form calcium oxide (also alld lime ‘or quicklime): €aC0,9) > caw + €0,(g) ‘The calcium oxide made in the lime kiln goes on to be roasted with clay to make cement. Cement can be mixed. with sand and small pieces of rock to make concrete, the most widely used building material in the world. Its tensile strength can be improved by letting the concrete set with iron rods running through it 5 Slaked lime (calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH), is also Figure 11.8 navotatngtin ly, caletum carbonate used by farmers to raise the pH of acidic soil. Caleium Lndergoes thermal decomposition to form calcium oxide and hydroxide is basic, soit will react with and neutralise acid, pron dioxide i raising the pH of the soil 4 a Howis limestone turned intolimein industry? b_ Which major construction materials are made from cement? ‘© Both calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide hhave giant ionic structures. Why is magnesium ‘oxide used to line furnaces but calcium carbonate isnot? 4d When lightning strikes during a thunderstorm, the rain that fallsisa dilute solution of ritric ‘acid (HNO,), Use a balanced chemical equation, including state symbols, to show how slaked lime {calcium hydroxide) added to soil can neutralise nitric adi.