s-BLOCK ELEMENTS

ALKALI METALS
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN LITHIUM
Physical properties :
General electronic configuration ns1.
AND MAGNESIUM
General oxidation state +1. (a) Both lithium and magnesium are harder and lighter
Atomic/Ionic size Li < Na < K < Rb < Cs. than other elements in the respective groups.
Density Li < K < Na < Rb < Cs
(b) Lithium and magnesium react slowly with cold water.
Ionisation energy Li > Na > K > Rb > Cs
Flame colour Their oxides and hydroxides are much less soluble
and their hydroxides decompose on heating. Both
Li Crimsen red
Na Golden yellow form a nitride by direct combination with nitrogen,
K Pale violet Li3N and Mg3N2.
Rb Reddish violet (c) The oxides, Li2O and MgO do not combine with
Cs Blue
excess oxygen to give a peroxide or a superoxide.
Basic nature increase down to the group
Reducing property : (d) The carbonates of lithium and magnesium decompose

Molten
easily on heating to form the oxide and CO2. Solid
Li < Na < K < Rb < Cs
bicarbonates are not for med by lithium and
Li > K ~ Rb > Cs > Na magnesium.
aqueous
(e) Both LiCl and MgCl2 are soluble in ethanol.
Chemical properties : (f) Both LiCl and MgCl2 are deliquescent and crystallise
With O 2 : Lithium forms normal oxide [Li2O]
from aqueous solution as hydrates,
Sodium forms peroxide (Na2O2)
LiCl.2H2O and MgCl2.8H2O.
K, Rb,Cs forms superoxide KO2,RbO2, CsO2 Carbonates :
H 2O
M2O ¾¾¾ ® M(OH)
H 2O Only Li2CO3 decomposes
M2O2 ¾¾¾® M(OH) + H2O2
H 2O D
MO2 ¾¾¾ ® M(OH) + H2O2 + O2 Li2CO3 ¾¾ ® Li2O + CO2
With Water : M + H2O ¾® MOH + H2 Nitrates :
With Air : D
LiNO3 ¾¾ ® Li2O + NO2 + O2
Moist air O 2 H 2O CO2
M2O MOH M2CO3 D
MNO3 ¾¾ ® MNO2 + O2 (M = Na/K/Rb/Cs)
M2O + M3N Na2CO3.10H2O (Washing Soda)
dry air
only Li gives nitride Ø In Solvay’s process, CO2 gas is passed through
With NH3 : saturated brine (NaCl) solution when sparingly soluble
M + (X + Y) NH3 ¾® [Na(NH3)X]+ + [e(NH3)Y]– NaHCO3 separates out.
ammoniated e– NH3 + H2O + CO2 ® NH4HCO3
Paramagnetic, blue colour. In excess of metal NH4HCO3 + NaCl ® NaHCO3 ¯ + NH4Cl
dimagnetic and copper bronze colour. The NaHCO 3 formed above is calcined to form
on standing Na2CO3
Li + NH3 ¾® Li2NH (Lithmide) + H2 Heat
2NaHCO3 ¾¾¾® Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O
M(Na/K/Rb/Cs) + NH3 ¾® MNH2 (amide) + H2
With Halides : Ø The reactions taking place at different stages during
the manufacture of Na2CO3 by Solvay process are
M + X2 ¾® MX
given as under :
K, Rb, Cs forms poly halide due to large size
 (a) 2NH3 + CO2 + H2O ® (NH4)2 CO3 This process is called efflorescence. Hence washing
(NH4)2CO3 + CO2 + H2O ® 2NH4 HCO3 soda losses weight on exposure to air.
2NaCl + 2NH4 HCO3 ® 2NaHCO3 + 2NH4Cl (ii) Hydrolysis :Aqueous solution of Na2CO3 is alkaline
(b) Ammonia recovery tower in nature due to anionic hydrolysis.
Heat
NH4HCO3 ¾¾¾ ® NH3 + CO2 + H2O Na2CO3 2Na+ + CO3–2 and
2NH4Cl + Ca(OH)2 ® 2NH3 + CaCl2 + 2H2O CO –2
+ H2O H2CO3 + 2OH
–
3
(c) Calcination of NaHCO3
(Carbonic acid)
2NaHCO3 ¾¾ D
® Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O Ø Na2CO3 does not impart any colour to the flame but
(i) Efflorescence : Na2CO3.10H2O when exposed to air NaCl does because the thermal ionization of Na2CO3
itgives out nine out of ten H2O molecules. does not take place at the temperature of flame of
Na2CO3.10H2O Na2CO3.H2O + 9H2O the burner.
(Monohydrate)

Reaction of NaOH :
(i) NaOH is strong base

SiO2
Na2SiO3 + H2O
NaOH Al2O3
2NaAlO2 + H2O

(ii) Reaction with non metals : no reaction with H2, N2 and C

D/B
Na3BO3 + H2
D/Si
NaOH Na2SiO3 + H2
D/P 4
NaH2PO2 + PH3
D/ S
Na2S2O3 + Na2S

NaOH (cold/dil)
NaX + NaOX (Sodium hypo halite)
X2 NaOH (Hot/conc.)
NaX + NaXO3 (Sodium Halate)
(X2 = Cl2, Br2, I2)

(iii) Reaction with Metal :

Alkali metal
No reaction
2Al + 2H 2O
2NaAlO2 (Sodium meta aluminate) + H2
Be
Na3BeO2 (Sodium Berrylate) + H2
NaOH Zn
Na2ZnO2 (Sodium zincate) + H2
Sn
Na2SnO2 (Sodium stannate) + H2
Pb
Na2PbO2 (Sodium plumbite) + H2
 ALKALINE EARTH METALS
DIAGONAL SIMILARITY
BETWEENBERYLLIUM AND
Ph ys ic al p ro pe rt ie s : Gen eral electron ic ALUMINIUM
configuration ns2. In many of its properties, beryllium resembles
General oxidation state +2. aluminium. Thus –
Atomic/Ionic size Be < Mg < Ca < Sr < Ba (a) The two elements have same electronegativity and
Ionisation energy Be > Mg > Ca > Sr > Ba their charge/ radius ratios.
Flame Test : (b) Both metals are fairly resistant to the action of acids
Among alkaline earth metals, Be and Mg do not impart due to a protective film of oxide on the surface. Both
metals are acted upon by strong alkalies to form
any characteristic colour to the flame due to more ionization
soluble complexes, beryllates [Be(OH) 4 ]2– and
energies.
aluminates, [Al(OH)4 ]– .
Ca & Brick red
(c) The chlorides of both beryllium and aluminium
Sr & Crimson red
Cl Cl Cl Cl
Ba - Apple green Cl-Be Be-Cl Al Al
Basic nature of oxide Cl Cl Cl Cl
Reducing property : Order of reducing property in aqueous have bridged chloride structures in vapour phase.
and gaseous medium is
(d) Salts of these metals form hydrated ions, Ex.
Be+2 < Mg+2 < Ca+2 < Sr+2 < Ba+2
[Be(OH2)4 ]2+ and [Al (OH2)6 ]3+ in aqueous solutions.
Chemical properties :
Due to similar charge/ radius ratios of beryllium and
With O2 : aluminium ions have strong tendency to form
O2
M ¾¾¾ O2
® MO ¾¾¾ ® MO2 complexes. For example beryllium forms tetrahedral
complexes such as BeF4 2– and [Be(C2 O4 )2 ]2– and
(Be,Mg,Ca,Sr,Ba, oxide) (Ca,Sr,Ba, peroxide)
aluminium forms octahedral complexes like AlF63–
With Water :
and [Al(C2 O4)3]3–.
M + 2H2O ® M(OH)2 + H2
With Air : Ø Be2C on treatment with H2O forms CH4 while CaC2
forms C2H2.
In moist air, except Be all the elements converts into
carbonates. Be2C + 2H2O ® 2 BeO + CH4
In dry air gives nitride and oxide both methane
With NH3 : CaC2 + 2H2O ® Ca(OH)2 + C2H2
Only Ca, Sr and Ba gives deep blue-black solution of Acetylene
ammoniated electron. CHLORIDE OF ALKALINE EARTH METAL.
Carbonates :
Ø BeCl2 in the vapour phase above 900°C is monomeric
(i) Except BeCO3, all the carbonates are stable towards
; below 900°C in the vapour exists as a mixture of
heat monomer BeCl2 and dimer Be2Cl4, in the solid state,
D has a polymeric structure and when dissolved in a
BeCO3 ¾¾® BeO + CO2
coordinating solvent it exists as a monomer.
(ii) Order of decreasing stability -
Ø Anhydrous MgCl2 cannot be prepared by the simple
BaCO3 > SrCO3 > CaCO3 > MgCO3 > BeCO3 heating of hydrated magnesium chloride MgCl2,
Nitrates : 6H2O, as it gets hydrolysed to magnesium oxide.
(i) Alkaline earth metals forms M(NO3)2 type nitrates.
MgCl2.6H2O ¾¾¾
Heat
® MgO + 2HCl + 2H2O
(M –Alkaline earth metal).
(ii) All alkaline metals nitrates on heating gives oxides Ø Out of the oxides of group 2 elements only BeO is
and NO2 + O2 extremely hard, non volatile, has high melting point
D and it is amphoteric.
M(NO3)2 ¾¾® Oxides + NO2 + O2
 ANALYTICAL DETECTION OF Mg PLASTER OF PARIS
(i) Charcoal cavity test. On heating on a charcoal cavity l Gypsum (CaSO4. 2H2O) found in nature, when heated,
with one drop of Co(NO3)2, a pink colour is imparted it first changes from monoclinic form to orthorhombic
to the residue CoO.MgO. form without loss of water. At 120°C, it loses three-
fourth of its water of crystallisation and forms
(ii) The salt solution when mixed with NH4Cl and NH4OH
hemihydrate (CaSO4. ½H2O) known as plaster of Paris.
and finally treated with soluble phosphates forms a
l Plaster of Paris has the property of setting to a hard
white precipitate of magnesiu m ammonium
mass CaSO4. 2H2O, slight expansion occurs during
phosphate.
setting addition of alum to plaster of Paris makes the
MgSO4 + Na2HPO4+NH4OH ® setting very hard. The mixture is known as Keene
Mg(NH4)PO4 +Na2SO4 + H2O cement.
white ppt. Plaster of Paris is used for setting broken or disslocated
bones, castes for statues, toys and in dentistry.
CALCIUM CYANAMIDE When plaster of Paris is heated at 200°C, it forms
Ø Calcium cyanamide (CaCN2) is prepared by heating anhydrous calcium sulphate which is known as dead
a mixture of CaC2 in an atmosphere of N 2 at plaster. It has no setting property.
1270–1370K with CaF2. CEMENT
CaF2 l Cement is an important building meterial. The average
CaC2 + N2 ¾¾¾¾¾
1270-1370K
¾
® CaCN2 + C
composition of portland cement is : CaO 61.5%, SiO 2
Its trade name is Nitrolim. 22.5%, Al2O3 7.5%. Cement consists of :

Ø Calcium cyanamide (CaCN2) is a slow acting manure Tricalcium silicate 3CaO.SiO2

and is preferred to soluble compounds like NaNO 3 or Dicalcium silicate 2CaO.SiO2
(NH4)2 SO4 since it confers fertility of a permanent Tricalcium aluminate 3CaO.Al2O3
nature. It is a nitrogenous fertiliser and undergoes a Tetracalcium alumino - ferrite 4CaO. Al2O3. Fe2O3
series of changes giving cyanamide, urea, NH3 and
When cement is mixed with water, it sets to a hard
finally the nitrates which are assimilable by plants.
mass, this is called setting. Setting is an exothermic
CaCN2 + H2O + CO2 ® CaCO3 + H2NCN process. During setting hydration occurs.
H2NCN + H2O ® H2NCONH2
CALCIUM HYDROXYAPATITE
Urea Hydroxyapatite, Ca9(PO 4)6.Ca(OH)2 is the main
H2NCONH2 + H2O ® CO2 + 2NH3 component of tooth enamel. Cavities are formed
whenacids decompose this enamel. This can be
OXIDE OF CALCIUM
prevented
Quick lime (CaO) is obtained when limestone is by converting the hydroxyapatite to more resistant
heated at about 1000°C. On adding water, quick enamel-fluorapatite, Ca9(PO4)6.CaF2.
limegives a hissing sound and forms calcium HYDROLITH
hydroxide, known as slaked lime. The paste of lime Ø Hydrolith (CaH2) is calcium hydride & on hydrolysis
in water is called milk of lime while the filtered and for calcium hydroxied & librate hydrogen.
clear solution is known as lime water. Chemically
both are Ca(OH)2. Quick lime is used for making
caustic soda, bleaching powder, calcuim carbide,
mortar, cement, glass, dye stuffs and purification of
sugar.
Mortar : It is a building material. It consists slaked
lime and silica in the ratio of 1:3. The mixture made
a paste with water. It is called mortar.