Group 2

Redox reactions

• The elements in group 2 all have two electrons in their outer shells so form positive
ions with a +2 charge.
• Group 2 is in the s block of the periodic table so their electron configurations will all end
with s2.
• They are referred to as the alkaline earth metals since they react with water to
form alkalis (metal hydroxides) and hydrogen.
• This is a redox reaction - the oxidation state of the group 2 element increases from 0
to +2, therefore it is oxidised. Hydrogen is reduced, since its oxidation number
decreases from +1 to 0.

Group 2 metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides.

• This is a combustion reaction (since oxygen is involved).

• It’s also redox — the group 2 element is oxidised and oxygen is reduced.
Group 2 metals react with dilute acid to form a salt and hydrogen.

• The group 2 metal is oxidised while hydrogen is reduced.

Reactivity

As you go down the group, the reactivity of the group 2 metals increases. This is
because:

• The outer electrons get further away from the nucleus, reducing the nuclear
attraction.

• Electron shielding increases, further reduces the attraction between the positive
nucleus and the outer electrons.

• So the outer two electrons are more easily lost to form +2 ions.

This also explains why ionisation energy decreases as you go down the group — it gets
easier to remove an outer electron so less energy is needed.

Reactions of group 2 compounds

Group 2 oxides are bases, which neutralise acids. For example, calcium oxide neutralises
hydrochloric acid to form a salt and water.
Group 2 oxides also react with water to form alkalis (metal hydroxides). Remember that an
alkali is simply a soluble base, which releases hydroxide (OH-) ions in solution.

For instance, calcium oxide reacts with water to form magnesium hydroxide. In solution,
calcium hydroxide will dissociate into calcium ions (Ca2+) and hydroxide ions (OH-).

The exception is magnesium hydroxide, which is only partially soluble. It doesn’t release
hydroxide ions quite as readily as the other group 2 hydroxides.

As you go down group 2, the group 2 hydroxides get more and more soluble, which means
that the solutions they form are increasingly alkaline.

Since group 2 compounds act as bases, they are often used to neutralise acids:

• As antacids – magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate are used in indigestion

tablets to neutralise excess stomach acid.

• Calcium hydroxide (aka slaked lime) is used in farming to neutralise acidic soil.