The alkali and alkaline earth metals

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The alkali and alkaline earth metals

The alkali metals
The most common elements in this group are lithium (Li), sodium (Na) and potassium (K). They are all
VERY reactive elements and in fact they have to be stored in oil to prevent them from reacting with water
and air.
There are three other elements in this group: rubidium, caesium and francium, but these metals are too
reactive to be used in the lab.
The Group 1 metals are soft metals and can be cut with a knife. When they are cut they leave a typical
shiny surface.
From the table below, note that they have low densities as well as low melting and boiling points. Also
they are very good conductors of electricity.

Reaction of alkali metals with water

All alkali metals react very vigorously with water. If a very small piece of Li, Na or K is dropped in a
trough containing water and Universal Indicator, a very vigorous reaction takes place.
All three metals float on water and react with it to give colourless hydrogen gas. In all three cases enough
heat is evolved to melt the metals. Also, because of the heat evolved, the hydrogen may ignite and burns
with a pink flame.
Besides producing hydrogen these metals also produce an alkaline solution when they react with water
(hence their name).

Michael Mercieca B.Ed.(Hons) :: Notes modified on August 2004

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Although all three elements react vigorously with water, K reacts more vigorously than Na which reacts
more vigorously than Li.
To summarise,
metal + water metal hydroxide (alkali) + hydrogen gas
e.g. 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

Reaction of alkali metals with oxygen

Alkali metals burn in oxygen to form solid white oxides. Each alkali metal burns with a characteristic flame
colour. Lithium burns with a red flame, sodium with a yellow-green flame and potassium with a lilac flame.
Again K is more reactive with oxygen than Na which is in turn more reactive than Li.
To summarise,
metal + oxygen metal oxide
e.g. 4K(s) + O2(g) 2K2O(s)
From what you know about alkali metals, electronegativity and atomic size, explain why reactivity
increases down a metal group.

Some compounds of alkali metals

Since compounds of the alkali metals have similar properties, only the compounds of sodium and
potassium are going to be considered.

Hydroxides
1. Hydroxides are composed of the metal cation and the OH- (hydroxide) anion. The hydroxides of alkali
metals behave as typical alkalis.
2. Sodium and potassium hydroxide are white deliquescent (absorb water vapour from the air and dissolve
in it) solids which are slimy to touch.
3. They dissolve readily in water liberating heat to form alkalis because the OH- is readily liberated.
4. They neutralise acids and displace ammonia from ammonium salts when heated together:
NaOH(aq) + HCl(aq) NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
NaOH(aq) + NH4Cl(aq) NaCl(aq) + H2O(l) + NH3(g)

Michael Mercieca B.Ed.(Hons) :: Notes modified on August 2004

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5. Sodium and potassium hydroxides react with various non-metals e.g. the halogens, sulphur, white
phosphorus, and sodium and potassium salts where the non-metal is incorporated in the anion.
6. Sodium and potassium hydroxides are used in organic chemistry and industrially they are used in
manufacturing soaps.

Halides
1. Halides are salts and consist of the halide cation and the metal anion.
2. For example, sodium chloride is a typical alkali metal halide that abounds in nature as rock-salt and in
sea water.
3. Sodium fluoride is obtained by reacting hydrofluoric acid with sodium hydroxide. Polythene vessels have
to be used because HF(aq) reacts with glass.
4. Potassium chloride is less important than sodium chloride and it is used to add potassium to soils and in
the production of potassium hydroxide.
5. Potassium bromide is more important than sodium bromide and it is used as a sedative, and in the
production of silver bromide for use in photography.
6. Potassium iodide is more important than sodium iodide and it is used in the lab to dissolve iodine, which
is not very soluble in water.

Sulphates
1. These are salts that of the dibasic (dibasic because it has two Hs and two bases are needed to
neutralise it) acid, sulphuric acid (H2SO4). They contain the sulphate ion (SO42-). Alkali metal sulphates are
all soluble in water.
2. For example, sodium sulphate is a white efflorescent crystalline solid which crystallises from water as
the decahydrate.
3. Potassium sulphate is used to treat potassium deficiency in soils, as a drying agent, and for making
potash alum K+Al3+(SO42-.12H2O) which is used as a mordant in dyeing.

Sulphites
1. These are salts of the dibasic acid, sulphurous acid and contain the ion SO32-.
2. They can be prepared by passing sulphur (V) oxide through aqueous solutions containing the cation of
the salt to prepared,
Na+(aq) + SO2(g) + 3H2O(l) Na2SO3(aq) + 2H3O+(aq)
3. Sulphites are used for bleaching, disinfecting and preserving.

Michael Mercieca B.Ed.(Hons) :: Notes modified on August 2004

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Nitrates
1. All nitrates, including those of alkali metals are soluble. They can be produced by the action of nitric
acid on the metal. Note that unlike other metal nitrates, sodium and potassium nitrates decompose upon
heating to give the nitrite and oxygen.
NaNO3(s) 2 NaNO2(s) + O2(g)
Other metal nitrates give off the oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen on heating.
2. Sodium nitrate occurs as Chile saltpetre in the desert regions of Chile. Potassium nitrate is also found as
saltpetre.
3. Both sodium and potassium nitrates are used as nitrogenous fertilisers.
4. Potassium nitrate is a constituent of gunpowder and as a meat preservative. Sodium nitrate cannot be
used in gunpowder as it is deliquescent.

Carbonates
1. Sodium carbonate is a very important chemical and is produced industrially by the Solvay process. This
basically involves the reaction between sodium chloride and calcium carbonate.
2. Potassium carbonate is produced by passing CO2 into a solution of potassium hydroxide. The product is
potassium hydrogen carbonate and after evaporating and igniting it, the resultant product is potassium
carbonate.
3. Both sodium and potassium hydroxides are freely soluble in water and give an alkaline reaction.
4. They also react with some salts in solution to give the corresponding carbonate,
CaCl2(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) CaCO3(s) + 2NaCl(aq)
5. Sodium carbonate is used in the lab as a volumetric reagent. In industry it is used in the manufacture of
glass, in the preparation of sodium salts, in the treatment of hard water and in paper making.
6. Potassium carbonate is more expensive and is used as a drying agent in organic chemistry since it is
deliquescent.

Hydrogencarbonates
1. These can be obtained by bubbling CO2 through a cold concentrated solution of the corresponding
carbonate.
Na2CO3(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) 2NaHCO3(s)
2. These compounds decompose on heating to give the corresponding carbonate.

Michael Mercieca B.Ed.(Hons) :: Notes modified on August 2004

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Work Out!!
1. Which of the elements are known as alkali metals? Why are the chemical propertiesof these
elements, all very similar?
2. Sodium chloride is an ionic compound. What does this mean.
3. Complete the following table:
Name
Sodium chloride
Potassium carbonate

Formula

Colour in flame test

Yellow

Na2CO3
LiOH
NaHCO3

Effect of heat
No reaction
K2CO3

4. Complete the following chemical equations, make them balance, and name the products:
a. K(s) + H2O(l)
b. Li(s) + Cl2(g)
c. KOH(aq) + CuSO4(aq)
d. Na2CO3(s) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
5. How could you tell the difference between sodium hydrogencarbonate and anhydrous sodium
carbonate?
6. Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction and name the products:
a. Lithium + water
b. Lithium burning in oxygen
c. Potassium burning in oxygen
d. Sodium carbonate + hydrochloric acid

Alkaline earth metals

The alkaline earth metals are found in Group 2 in the periodic table and include beryllium (Be),
magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) and radium (Ra); the most common are
obviously Mg and Ca.
All the metals in the group have two outer electrons and need to lose these two electrons to achieve a
noble gas configuration (they have a valency of 2).
They are harder than the Group 1 metals and although they silver-grey coloured, they tend to tarnish
quickly when left in air, because they are so reactive that they quickly form a layer of oxide on their
surface.
Like the alkali metals they are good conductors of heat and electricity.

Reaction of alkaline earth metals with water

Both calcium and magnesium react with water but less vigorously than the alkali metals.
Before reacting magnesium with water, the magnesium must be cleaned with emery paper to remove the
oxide layer that forms upon it.

Michael Mercieca B.Ed.(Hons) :: Notes modified on August 2004

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When clean magnesium is placed in cold water bubbles of hydrogen are formed on its surface.
Mg(s) + H2O(l) MgO(s) + H2(g)
Calcium reacts in a similar manner but more vigorously.
Ca(s) + H2O(l) CaO(s) + H2(g)
Both oxides are slightly soluble in water and hence the reaction goes on to give the hydroxide.
MgO(s) + H2O(l) Mg(OH)2(aq)
CaO(s) + H2O(l) Ca(OH)2(aq)

Reaction of alkaline earth metals with acids

Both calcium and magnesium react with dilute acids to give the corresponding salt and hydrogen (in other
words they displace hydrogen from the acid).
Ca(s) + 2 HCl(aq) --> CaCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Mg(s) + H2SO4(aq) --> MgSO4(aq) + H2(g)
Like in Group 1, one observes that as you go down the group the reactivity increases (i.e. Ca is more
reactive than Mg).

Some compounds of alkaline earth metals

Hydroxides
1. Both calcium and magnesium hydroxides are white solids which are sufficiently soluble in water to
produce alkaline solutions. The solution of calcium hydroxide in water is known as lime water.
2. Calcium hydroxide (known also as slaked lime) is manufactured by heating limestone to a temperature
of about 1000oC. Water is then added to the oxide which forms (this is called slaking, a highly exothermic
reaction.
CaCO3(s) CaO(s) + CO2(g)
CaO(s) + H2O(l) Ca(OH)2(s)
3. Calcium and magnesium hydroxides are strong bases and they will neutralise acids and displace
ammonia from ammonium salts.
4. Calcium hydroxide, unlike magnesium hydroxide, has many uses. Some of these are:
A. to displace ammonia from ammonium salts, e.g. in the Solvay process;
B. as a cheap alkali to add to acid soils;

Michael Mercieca B.Ed.(Hons) :: Notes modified on August 2004

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C. in the softening of temporary hard water;

D. to form bleaching powder (CaOCl2)
E. a suspension of calcium hydroxide in water is used as whitewash;
F. the solution of calcium hydroxide in water is used to detect CO2 (limewater).

Oxides
1. Calcium and magnesium oxides of are formed on heating the metals in oxygen. They can also be
formed by decomposing their carbonates.
2. Magnesium oxide has a melting point of 2800oC and is used in steel furnaces.
3. Calcium oxide is used in the lab to dry ammonia and ethanol.

Carbonates
1. Magnesium carbonate occurs as magnesite and in association with calcium carbonate as dolomite.
Calcium carbonate exists in two crystalline forms: calcite, e.g. limestone, chalk, marble; and aragonite,
found in coral shells. Limestone and dolomite are both very important industrially as they are used in
various industrial processes, e.g. extraction of iron, Solvay process etc.
2. Both carbonates are sparingly soluble in water and on strong heating they decompose to give the oxide
and carbon dioxide. Like all carbonates, they also react readily with dilute acids to give salts, carbon
dioxide and water.
3. Magnesium carbonate is used to produce magnesium oxide which is used in steel furnaces.
Calcium carbonate has many uses, e.g.:
A. it is a basic raw material in the Solvay Process;
B. it is used to make cement. Cement is made by heating limestone and clay. Cement is then
usually mixed with rubble, sand and water to form concrete;
C. it is also used in the glass industry, as well as to make quicklime and slaked lime.

Hydrogen carbonates
1. Solid hydrogen carbonates of magnesium and calcium are not found as solids at room temperature, but
they are the cause for temporary hardness in water.
2. Rain attacks any rocks containing calcium and magnesium carbonates and forms dilute solutions of the
hydrogen carbonates,

Michael Mercieca B.Ed.(Hons) :: Notes modified on August 2004

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CaCO3(s) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) Ca(HCO3)2(aq)

3. When the above solutions are boiled, the reverse of this reaction occurs, and the carbonate is
deposited.
4. The formation of stalactites and stalagmites in limestone caves are formed because of the
decomposition of these hydrogen carbonates as the solution slowly evaporates (an the carbonates are
deposited).

Halides
1. Solubility of halides (as the solubility of other compounds) increases down the group, i.e. e.g. the
fluoride of calcium is more soluble in water than that of magnesium.
2. Chlorides and bromides of these metals are much more soluble than the fluorides.
3. Calcium fluoride is found naturally as fluorspar and is used for making hydrogen fluoride.
4. Both magnesium and calcium chloride are deliquescent, and in fact anhydrous calcium chloride is used
as a drying agent.
5. Bromides and iodides of calcium and magnesium are soluble in organic solvents with which they form
complexes.

Commercially produced compounds of

alkali and alkaline earth metals
1. Washing soda (see Softening of hard water above)
2. Epsom salts: these consist of hydrated magnesium sulphate (MgSO4.7H2O). They are used for
purgative purposes and for other medical purposes.
3. Plaster of Paris: this is hydrated calcium sulphate that has lost three-quarters of its water of
crystallisation. When water is added to Plaster of Paris, it heats up, expands somewhat and
quickly sets. It is used in making casts, for wall surfaces and in limb surgery.
4. Milk of magnesia: contains magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2); this is basic in nature and is used
to counterattack excess acidity in the stomach.

Work Out!!
1. Make a list of 6 calcium and magnesium compounds, giving their chemical name and formulae and
also where possible, their common names, occurrence and uses.
2. Describe with aid of labelled diagrams, an experiment demonstrating the reaction between
a. Magnesium and water
b. Magnesium and steam
Give the chemical equation for each reaction.
3. Outline the uses of:
a. Limestone
b. Quicklime

Michael Mercieca B.Ed.(Hons) :: Notes modified on August 2004

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5.
6.
7.
8.

9.

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c. Lime water
d. Slaked Lime
Why is slaked lime sometimes known as hydrated lime?
Finely divided limestone is known as agricultural lime since it is used to reduce the acidity in the
soil. Explain how the acidity is reduced.
Draw the electron structure of a) calcium, b) magnesium.
Write an ionic equation for the ionisation of calcium.
Write a balanced chemical equation for each reaction and name the products:
a. MgCO3(aq) + H2SO4(aq)
b. Ca(s) + O2(g)
c. Mg(s) + ZnO(s)
d. Ca(s) + HCl(aq)
Alkaline earth metals are reducing agents. Explain why and give two examples.

Michael Mercieca B.Ed.(Hons) :: Notes modified on August 2004