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Physical properties
The arrangement of the periodic table is
such that trends can be analysed both
across a period and down a group.

Group 2 of the periodic table is shown

here. Trends that can be analysed
down the group include atomic
radius, first ionization energy and
melting point.

Elements in the same group also

undergo similar chemical reactions.

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Trend in atomic radius

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Explaining the trend in atomic radius
The atomic radius of the
Atomic
elements increases down Element
radius
group 2 from beryllium to barium.
(nm)
The number of protons beryllium 0.112
increases down the group;
magnesium 0.145
however, so does the number
of shielding electrons. Effective calcium 0.194
nuclear charge therefore
strontium 0.219
remains approximately
constant. barium 0.253

The increase in radius is due to higher principle energy

levels being filled, whose orbitals are located further from
the nucleus.

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Trend in first ionization energy

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First ionization energies in group 2

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Trend in melting points

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Explaining the trend in melting points
The melting points of the Melting
elements decrease down Element
point (K)
group 2, with the exception
of magnesium to calcium. beryllium 1560

A metal’s melting point depends magnesium 923

on the strength of its metallic calcium 1115
bonds. This decreases down the
group because the atomic radius strontium 1050
increases, resulting in a weaker barium 1000
attraction between the nucleus
and delocalized electrons.
The melting point of magnesium is lower than expected due
to variation in how its atoms pack in the metallic crystal.

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Physical properties summary

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First ionization energy of group 2 metals

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Solubilities of group 2 hydroxides

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Solubilities of group 2 hydroxides
The solubility of the
group 2 hydroxides Group 2
Solubility
increases down the hydroxide
group. Magnesium Mg(OH)2 sparingly soluble
hydroxide is considered
to be sparingly soluble Ca(OH)2 slightly soluble
and the hydroxides of Sr(OH)2 soluble
the lower members of
the groups are all Ba(OH)2 soluble
considered to be soluble.
As the solubility of the group 2 hydroxides increases, so
does the pH of the solutions formed. This is because the
more of the hydroxide that dissolves, the greater the
concentration of hydroxide ions (OH-) in the solution formed.

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Applications of group 2 hydroxides
A suspension of magnesium hydroxide is commonly called
milk of magnesia. It is used in medicine as a laxative and to
relieve acid indigestion.

Calcium hydroxide, also

called slaked lime, is
used in agriculture to raise
the pH of soils. Soil pH is
an important factor in
agriculture.

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Solubilities of group 2 sulfates

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Solubilities of group 2 sulfates
The solubility of the group 2 sulfates decreases down the
group. Magnesium and calcium sulfate are considered to
be soluble, whereas strontium and barium sulfate are
considered to be insoluble.

Group 2 Note that this

Solubility
hydroxide decrease in solubility
MgSO4 soluble down the group is
the opposite of the
CaSO4 slightly soluble trend for the
SrSO4 insoluble solubility of the
group 2 hydroxides.
BaSO4 insoluble

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Testing for sulfate ions

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Applications of group 2 sulfates
Barium sulfate is used as a
radiocontrast agent to help
take X-ray images of the
digestive system. It is
sometimes known as a
‘barium meal’.

Barium sulfate is insoluble, so

is not absorbed by the body
when swallowed. However,
barium is a very good absorber
of X-rays and it helps to define
structures of the digestive
system to aid in diagnosis.

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Applications of group 2 compounds

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Chemical properties summary

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Reaction with oxygen

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Flame tests
When group 2 metals are burned in oxygen, coloured
flames are produced. This is due to the presence of metal
ions. Flame tests exploit this fact.
The presence of certain metal ions can be identified by
noting the characteristic flame colour that results from
burning. The colours for group 2 metal ions are:

magnesium – bright white

calcium – brick red/orange

strontium – red/crimson

barium – pale green/yellow-green

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Explaining flame tests
When heated, some electrons in an atom or ion are excited
to higher energy levels. When they fall back to their initial
levels, energy is emitted; sometimes seen as visible light.

Electrons may be excited by

different amounts into
different energy levels and

energy
drop back at different times. light
The colour of the flame is a heat
combination of all these
energy emissions.

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Flame test colours

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Redox reaction with oxygen
When group 2 metals react with oxygen, they form the
metal oxide. For example:

2Mg(s) + O2(g)  2MgO(s)

oxidation
0 0 +2 -2 states

The oxidation state of magnesium has increased from 0 in

its elemental form to +2 when it is in magnesium oxide.
This means the magnesium has been oxidized.

The oxidation state of oxygen has decreased from 0 in its

elemental form to -2 when it is in magnesium oxide. This
means the oxygen has been reduced.

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Redox reaction with chlorine
When group 2 metals react with chlorine, they form the
metal chloride. For example:

Ca(s) + Cl2(g) CaCl2(s)

oxidation
0 0 +2 -1 states

The oxidation state of calcium has increased from 0 in its

elemental form to +2 when it is in calcium chloride. This
means the calcium has been oxidized.

The oxidation state of chlorine has decreased from 0 in its

elemental form to -1 when it is in calcium chloride. This
means the chlorine has been reduced.

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Reaction with water

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Redox reaction with water
When group 2 metals react with water they form the metal
hydroxide and hydrogen gas. For example:

Sr(s) + 2H2O(l) → Sr(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)

oxidation
0 +1 +2 0 states

The oxidation state of strontium has increased from 0 in

its elemental form to +2 when it is in strontium hydroxide.
This means the strontium has been oxidized.

The oxidation state of hydrogen has decreased from +1 in

water to 0 when it is in its elemental form. The means the
hydrogen has been reduced.

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Explaining the trend in reactivity
The reactivity of the elements
down group 2 from beryllium to
barium increases. Mg

This is because it is
successively easier to remove
electrons to form the 2+ ion. Ca

Although increased shielding

cancels the increased nuclear
Sr
charge down the group, the
increase in atomic radius results
in a decrease in the attractive
force between the outer Ba
electrons and the nucleus.

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Reaction of oxides with water
When group 2 metal oxides react with water they form the
metal hydroxide. For example:

SrO(s) + H2O(l)  Sr(OH)2(aq)

Similar to the reaction between the metal and water, the
resulting solution has high pH due to the hydroxide ions
from the metal hydroxide. Reactivity is as follows:

Oxide Reaction
beryllium does not react
reacts slowly to form
magnesium alkaline suspension
calcium reacts to form alkaline suspension
strontium, barium react to form alkaline solutions
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Decomposition of group 2 carbonates
When heated, the group 2 metal carbonates decompose
to form the metal oxide and carbon dioxide gas. Splitting
compounds using heat is called thermal decomposition.

MCO3(s)  MO(s) + CO2(g)

The group 2 carbonates become more stable to thermal

decomposition going down the group:

magnesium carbonate: MgCO3

increasing calcium carbonate: CaCO3
stability
strontium carbonate: SrCO3
barium carbonate: BaCO3

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Decomposition of group 2 nitrates
Thermal decomposition of group 2 metal nitrates forms
the metal oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen.

2M(NO3)2(s)  2MO(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g)

Like the group 2 metal carbonates, the nitrates become

more stable to thermal decomposition down the group.

magnesium nitrate: Mg(NO3)2

increasing calcium nitrate: Ca(NO3)2
stability
strontium nitrate: Sr(NO3)2
barium nitrate: Ba(NO3)2

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Explaining the trend in thermal stability
Metal ions become larger down group 2 but have the same
charge. This means their charge density is reduced.

A metal ion with a high

charge density has
strong polarizing power.
It can therefore polarize
the carbonate ion,
making it more likely to
split into O2- and CO2
when heated. polarization
A metal ion with a low charge density has weak polarizing
power, meaning the carbonate ion is less polarized and
therefore more thermally stable.

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Equations for reactions

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Stability of group 2 carbonates

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Glossary

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What’s the keyword?

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Multiple-choice quiz

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