AS CHEMISTRY 9701

Ch.11: Group 2
MCKL CHEMISTRY PANEL
TERRENCE LAI

MCKL CHEMISTRY PANEL / TERRENCE LAI / AY 2015

CHAPTER 11: GROUP 2

Contents (from Syllabus 2015)

I

Similarities and trends in the properties of the Group 2 metals

magnesium to barium and their compounds
(i)
reactions with oxygen, water and dilute acids
(ii)
behaviour of oxides, hydroxides and carbonates with
water and dilute acids
(iii)
thermal decomposition of nitrates and carbonates
(iv)
Interpret and make predictions from trends in physical
and chemical properties of elements and their
compounds

Some uses of Group 2 compounds

(i)
Use of magnesium oxide as a refractory lining material
(ii)
Use of lime in agriculture

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CHAPTER 11: GROUP 2

Group 2 metals
2

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CHAPTER 11: GROUP 2

Group 2 metals (2)

2

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CHAPTER 11: GROUP 2

Physical properties of Group 2

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CHAPTER 11: GROUP 2

Reactions of Group 2 elements

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CHAPTER 11: GROUP 2

Reaction with oxygen (Flame

test)
2

2
[NOT in syllabus]
Why different colours? These
are due to photons emitted
when electrons return to their
initial energy level after being
excited by heating; since
distribution of energy levels
differs for elements, each
element has its own
characteristic emission
spectrum.
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CHAPTER 11: GROUP 2

Reaction with water

2

(easier to ionises)

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CHAPTER 11: GROUP 2

Reaction with dilute acid

2

(easier to ionises)

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CHAPTER 11: GROUP 2

Reaction of oxides with water and acids

2
2

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Reactions of hydroxides with water and

acids, solubility of sulfates
Group 2 hydroxides have increasing solubility down the group.
Therefore the resulting solution is more alkaline.
General equation
M(OH)2 (s) + aq M2+ (aq) + 2OH- (aq)
Hydroxides react with acid because they are basic:
M(OH)2 (s) + 2H+ (aq) M2+ (aq) + 2H2O (l)
However the Group 2 sulfates have decreasing solubility down the
group (BaSO4 is very insoluble test for sulfate ion by adding BaCl2)
For reasons why is this please look at A2 chapter lattice energy

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Reactions of carbonates with

water and dilute acids
Carbonates of Group 2 elements are not soluble in water, i.e. no reaction

However they react with dilute acid to form salt, water and carbon dioxide
Eg. With dilute sulfuric acid
MCO3 (s) + H2SO4 (aq) MSO4 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)
Reactivity decreases down the group because of the decreasing solubility
of MSO4 (BaSO4 is insoluble), preventing further reaction beneath the
surface layer of MSO4, so less CO2 given out
Reaction with nitric acid produces soluble nitrate salts:
MCO3 (s) + 2HNO3 (aq) M(NO3)2 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)

Reaction with hydrochloric acid produces soluble chloride salts:

MCO3 (s) + 2HCl (aq) MCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)

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Thermal decomposition of
Group 2 nitrates
Toxic
Nitrogen(IV)
Oxide

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CHAPTER 11: GROUP 2

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Thermal decomposition of
Group 2 carbonates
2

(Read A2 chapter lattice energy to find out more)

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Uses of Group 2 oxides

(High charge density means closely packed in ionic lattice, so strong ionic bondings)

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Cement factory
CaCO3 can be converted into CaO by
heating in a rotating kiln
CaCO3 CaO + CO2
lime/quick lime
cement + sand + small rocks concrete
Concrete is an important building
material, can be reinforced by setting
the concrete with iron rods running
through it.

Liming in agriculture
Ca(OH)2 (slaked lime) is basic, so it is used to
neutralize soil acidity
Source of soil acidity may come from acid rain,
or leaching of H+ as a result of hydrolysis by
Al3+ cations:
2Al3+ + 3H2O AlOH2+ + Al(OH)2+ + 3H+
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Summary
Group 2 elements (Mg to Ba) have increasing atomic radii, increasing ionic
radii, decreasing first IE, decreasing melting points and decreasing hardness
down the group
Group 2 elements react with water, oxygen to form hydroxides and oxides
respectively; both of these are basic so some dissolve in water to form
alkaline solution; all oxides and hydroxides also react with acids to form
soluble salts and water
Group 2 carbonates react with dilute acid to form salt, water and CO2
Group 2 carbonates and nitrates decompose on heating, and releases
NO2+O2(for nitrates) and CO2 (for carbonates) and oxides
Reactivity of Group 2 increases down the group as the first two IE decrease,
however the solubility of sulfates and thermal decomposition of
carbonates/nitrates decrease down the group due to increasing charge
density of the cation (more on A2 lattice energy)
Limestone is used as building material, MgO used as refractory lining,
Ca(OH)2 used to neutralize acids in acidic soil
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