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Periodicity

(i) Na, Mg, Al and Si are more electropositive than hydrogen and react with water at
ordinary temperature or in the form of steam to hydrogen gas.
Sodium (Na) reacts vigorously with water forming molten balls on the surface of water
with fizzing to produce a strong colourless alkaline solution and hydrogen gas. The pH
of the alkaline solution is in the range 13 - 14. It is an exothermic reaction.
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)

The reaction of magnesium with water at ordinary temperature is very slowly to the to
the extent that it may be concluded that no reaction is taking place. The very slow
reaction however produces a weak alkaline solution. It is a weak alkaline solution since
magnesium hydroxide is less soluble in water. The reaction is too slow to the extent that
it may take some days for a test tube of hydrogen gas to be produced from a reaction
between magnesium and water at ordinary temperature. A pH meter dipped into the
mixture after keeping the magnesium in water for a long time gives a pH range of about
9 – 10. This is an indication that the reaction has taken place even though there is no
observable change.
Mg(s) + 2H2O(l) → Mg(OH)2(aq) + H2(g).

Magnesium however reacts violently with steam, burning with a bright white flame to
give a white solid magnesium oxide and hydrogen gas.
Mg(s) + H2O(g) → MgO(s) + H2(g)

Sodium reacts with water faster than magnesium because the first ionisation energy of
sodium is by fast less than the sum of the first two ionisation energies of magnesium.
Thus heat or water in the form steam is required for a reasonable reaction between
magnesium and water.Aluminium powder reacts with steam when heated to form
hydrogen gas and aluminium oxide (Al2O3). The oxide forms an impermeable layer on
the surface of aluminium which slows down the reaction.
4Al(s) + 3H2O(g) → 2Al2O3(s) + 3H2(g)

Silicon (Si) attacks steam at white heat to release hydrogen gas.

Si(s) + 2H2O(g) → SiO2(s) + 2H2(g)

Chlorine (Cl2) undergoes a disproportionation reaction to produce a mixed acidic

solution; hydrochloric acid and chloric (I) acid respectively with pH in the range 0–
2 as shown in the equation below.
Cl2(g) + H2O(l) ⇌ HCl(aq) + HOCl(aq).

In the presence of sunlight, chloric (I) acid (hypochlorous acid) undergoes slight
decomposition to release oxygen.
2HOCl(aq) → 2HCl(aq) + O2(g).

Thus the overall equation for the reaction of chlorine with water in the presence of
sunlight may be written as given below.
2Cl2(g) + 2H2O(l) → 4HCl(aq) + O2(aq).

(ii) Phosphorus (P), sulphur (S) and neon (Ne) do not react with water.

(a) The reactions of period 3 elements with oxygen

Reactivity generally decreases across the period from sodium to chlorine. Most of the
elements burn in oxygen to produce their respective oxides.

(i) Sodium, magnesium and aluminium react vigorously with oxygen although the reaction
between aluminium and oxygen slows down due to the formation of an impermeable
aluminium oxide (Al2O3) on the surface of aluminium. For a fast reaction, aluminium in
powder form is required. Sodium burns in oxygen with yellow flame to produce white

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