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Periodicity

Solubility of silver halides: All silver halides are insoluble except silver fluoride (AgF)
which is soluble. This is due to the small size of fluoride ion that cannot easily be
polarised by the silver cation.
AgF(s) + aq → Ag+(aq) + F–(aq).
Solubility of calcium halides: All silver halides are soluble except calcium fluoride
(CaF2) which is insoluble. This is due to the small size of fluoride ion that makes CaF2 to
have a very high lattice energy.
Oxidation states: All the group 17 elements have oxidation states (-1, +1, +3, +5, +7)
except fluorine which has only one oxidation state (-1). Fluorine does not have variable
oxidation states due to the absence of empty d-orbitals in the valence shell of oxygen.
Fluorine does not form positive oxidation states because it is the most electronegative
element.
Formation of hydrogen bonds: The hydrides formed by group 17 elements do not form
hydrogen bonds except the hydrides of fluorine (HF). This is due high electronegativity
of oxygen. Fluorine is the most electronegative element. The ion HF2- in KHF2 exists due
to the ability of HF to form hydrogen bonds.
Formation of trihalide ions: The group 17 elements do form trihalide ions (X3–) except
fluorine. This is due to the absence of empty d-orbitals in the valence shell of fluorine.
Stability of nitrogen trihalides: Nitrogen trihalides are unstable and violently explosive
while nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) is stable.

14.5 Table of Structure, Bonding and Properties of Periods 2 and 3 Elements

Chemical periodicity of period 2 and period 3 elements will be considered.
(A) Chemical periodicity of period 2 elements.
Period 2 elements are Li, Be, B, C, N, O, F and Ne.
(a) Reactions of period 2 elements with water.
(i) Lithium reacts with water to form an alkaline solution with the release of
hydrogen gas and heat.
2Li(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2LiOH(aq) + H2(g).
(ii) Beryllium does not react with water at all.
Be(s) + 2H2O(l) → No reaction.
(iii) Boron reacts with steam to form boric acid and hydrogen gas.
2B(s) + 6H2O(g) → 2H2BO3(s) + H2(g).
(iv) Carbon under normal conditions does not react with water but white hot
coke reacts with steam to form water gas (mixture of carbon monoxide and
hydrogen). Below 1027°C, carbon dioxide is produced.
C(s) + H2O(g) → CO(g) + H2(g).
(v) Nitrogen, oxygen and neon do not react with water at all.
N2(s) + 2H2O(l) → No rxn.
(vi) Fluorine attacks water rapidly even at low temperatures giving off oxygen
(O2) with a considerable amount of ozone (O3).
2F2(s) + 2H2O(l) → 4HF(aq) + O2(g).
3F2(s) + 3H2O(l) → 6HF(aq) + O3(g).

(b) Reactions of period 2 elements with chlorine.

(i) Lithium reacts with chlorine when heated to form LiCl.
2Li(s) + Cl2(g) → 2LiCl(s). LiCl which is ionic in nature.
(ii) Beryllium reacts with dry chlorine when heated to form BeCl2 which is covalent and
polymeric in nature.
Be(s) + Cl2(g) → BeCl2(s).
(iii) Boron reacts with dry chlorine when heated to form BCl3.
2B(s) + 3Cl2(g) → 2BeCl3(s). BCl3 which is covalent in nature.

THE NEN SERIES A-Level chemistry notes 2023-2024 school year prepared by Nkemzi E.N