S-Block Elements

Alkali and Alkaline Earth metals (Group 1 and 2 elements)

Hydration of Ions
The ions have a lot of water in them. The degree of hydration is proportional to
the size of the ion. As a result, from Li+ to Cs+, the degree of hydration falls. As a
result, electrical conductivity diminishes as hydration increases.

Lattice Energy
Ionic solids are alkali metal salts. The lattice energy of alkali metal salts with a
common anion drops as one moves down the group
The blue colour of the solution is due to the ammoniated electron which absorbs energy in the
visible region of light and thus imparts blue colour to the solution. The solutions are paramag-
netic and on standing slowly liberate hydrogen resulting in the formation of amide.
In concentrated solution, the blue colour changes to bronze colour and becomes diamagnetic.

Colourless and Diamagnetic Ions

The number of unpaired electrons present in an ion determines whether the ion
is colourless or coloured. If an anion has unpaired electrons, these electrons can
be stimulated by light energy and subsequently return to the ground state to
show colour. Unpaired electron ions have magnetic properties, while paired elec-
tron ions cancel out each other's magnetic fields. Diamagnetic ions are such
ions. The presence of unpaired electrons causes super oxides to be para mag-
netic and coloured.

Melting and Boiling Point

The cohesive energy is the force that holds the atoms or ions in a solid together.
The cohesive energy is proportional to the number of electrons capable of bond-
ing. Alkali metals contain only one valence electron that participates in bonding,
and the outer bonding electron is big and diffuse, therefore the cohesive force re-
duces as the group gets smaller. As the atoms get bigger as you go down the
group, the bonds get weaker, the cohesive energy drops, and the metal gets
softer. As a result, the melting point drops as the group progresses. The boiling
point also reduces the size of the group.
Basic Nature, Ionic Nature of the Oxides
Because the size of the cation increases, the basic nature of oxides changes
from lithium to cesium.

i. From lithium to cesium, the cation size increases. The ionic nature of these
oxides rises from lithium to cesium, according to Fajan's Rule.
ii. As the ionic nature of these metal oxides changes, solubility in water in-
creases from lithium to cesium oxides.
Reaction with Hydrogen

Reactivity towards halogens : The alkali metals readily react vigorously with halogens to form
ionic halides, M+ X– . However, lithium halides are somewhat covalent. It is because of the high
polarisation capability of lithium ion (The distortion of electron cloud of the anion by the cation is
called polarisation). The Li+ ion is very small in size and has high tendency to distort electron
cloud around the negative halide ion. Since anion with large size can be easily distorted, among
halides, lithium iodide is the most covalent in nature.

Reducing Nature of Alkali metals-The alkali metals are strong reducing agents, lithium being the
most and sodium the least powerful. The standard electrode potential (E ) which measures the
reducing power represents the overall change :

Anomalous Behavior of Lithium

Que- 1

Que-2 Among the alkali metals which element has

i. Highest melting point

ii. Highest size of hydrated ion in solution
iii. Strongest reducing agent in solution
iv. Least electronegative

Compounds of Alkali Metals

Uses of Alkali Metals-Lithium
1. It is used as an alloying metal with-Pb to give white metal which is used for mak-
ing bearings for motor engines.
2. Al to give high strength Li-Al alloy is used in aircraft industry .

Sodium and potassium

Cesium is used in devising photo-electric cells.
Halides
All of the metals in this group create MX halides. Because lithium ion is the
smallest ion in the group, it is more likely than other metals to produce hydrated
salts.

Properties
Alkali metal halides are excellent ionic compounds, as evidenced by the follow-
ing features.
i. With the exception of lithium fluoride, all alkali halides are easily soluble in
water (Lithium fluoride is soluble in non-polar solvents).
ii. Their melting and boiling points are extremely high.
a. The melting and boiling points of the same alkali metal drop in a pre-
dictable order.
Fluoride > chloride > bromide > iodide
This is described in terms of the metal halides' lattice energy*. The lattice energy
of the same metal reduces when the halogen's electronegativity lowers.

b. The melting point of lithium halides is lower than that of sodium halides
for the identical halide ion. However, as we travel down the group from
sodium to cesium, the melting points of halides decline. Lithium halides
exhibit aberrant behaviour due to their covalent character, whereas
sodium and other halides are ionic in nature. As we advance along the
group of ionic halides, the melting point lowers as the lattice energy de-
creases.

Solubility of halides of alkali metals: Alkali metal halides have a range

of solubilities. The solubility of alkali metal fluorides in water, for example,
gradually increases from lithium to caesium. Lithium chloride has a far bet-
ter solubility in water than sodium chloride when it comes to chlorides. This
is owing to the lithium ion's tiny size and high hydration energy. However,
when the lattice energy of the crystals decreases, solubility in water in-
creases steadily from sodium chloride to cesium chloride.

In the fused condition, they are good conductors of electricity.

They are made up of ionic crystals. Lithium halides, on the other hand,
have a partially covalent character due to the polarising power of lithium
ions.

The lattice energy and polarising power are responsible for the structure
and stability (solubility) of alkali metal halides.
Important Compounds of Alkali metals - 1. Sodium Carbonate (Washing Soda)

Preparation -

Physical Properties- It is a white crystalline solid.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES-

Action of heat-

Action of water-

Action with acids-

Uses-1. It is used to manufacture glass, soap, borax and caustic soda.
2. It is used in water softening and cleaning.
3. It is used in paper, paint , textile and petroleum industries.

Compound 2 -Caustic Soda (NaOH)

Preparation -
Physical Properties- It is white translucent solid.
2. Its crystals are deliquescent

Chemical Reactions of Caustic Soda -

Uses- 1. Used to manufacture soap, paper, artificial silk.
2. Used in petroleum refining
3. Used for the preparation of bauxite

Compound -3 Sodium Chloride (NaCl)- Rock Salt

Preparation

Properties-
Uses-1. It is used as a common salt or table salt for domestic purpose.
2.It is used for the preparation of Na2O2, NaOH and Na2CO3.

COMPOUND-4 BAKING SODA

Preparation -
Uses-1. It is used for making baking powder.
2. It is used in making effervescent drinks
3. It is used in fire extinguishers.
4. It is used as antacids in medicines.
5. It is used as a mild antiseptic for skin infections.
Biological Importance of sodium and potassium -

Sodium and potassium ions play a vital role in biological system . Inside the red blood cells, the
concentration of sodium ions is less than that of potassium ions and outside the cell, the con-
centration of sodium ions is more than potassium ions. Due to this ionic gradient , a potential dif-
ference is created across the cell membrane that triggers a mechanism called sodium -potas-
sium pump , which allows for the nerve fibres to conduct impulses and muscles to contract.

Questions from Alkali Metals

1. Alkali metals are paramagnetic but their salts are diamagnetic. Explain.
2. Alkali metals are good reducing agents. Explain.
3. : Which alkali metal ion has the maximum polarising power and why?
4. Lithium ion is far smaller than other alkali metal ions but it moves through a
solution less rapidly that the others. Explain.
5. Why do potassium, rubidium and cesium form superoxides in preference to
oxides and peroxides on being heated in excess supply of air?
6.
 7.

ALKALINE EARTH METALS

Introduction
Group-II of the periodic table contains the elements beryl-
lium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium.
All of these substances are metals. Calcium, strontium, and
barium oxides were discovered far before the metals them-
selves, and they were dubbed alkaline earths because they
were alkaline and found in the earth. Alkaline earth metals
were given to the elements once they were found. Radium
shares chemical properties with alkaline earth metals, but
because it is a radioactive element, it is researched inde-
pendently from the other radioactive elements

Physical Properties
Atomic Size
On going down the group, atomic size of elements in-
creases.

Oxidation State
+2 oxidation state is exhibited by group II elements.

Density
Group II elements are smaller in size than group I elements,
hence they have a higher density than group I elements.
From beryllium to radon, density rises.
Exception: Calcium has a lower density than magnesium,
whereas magnesium has a lower density than beryllium.

Nature of Bonds
Beryllium forms mainly covalent compound. The rest of the
elements in group II form ionic bonds.

Hydration Energy
Because of their smaller size and higher charge, the hydra-
tion energies of group 2 ions are four to five times higher
than those of group 1 ions. As the size of the ions grows
larger, the hydration enthalpy falls.
Lattice Energy
The lattice energy of alkali metal salts with a common anion
drops as one moves down the group.
COMPOUNDS OF ALKALINE EARTH METALS