Group 2 Elements

The Alkaline Earth Metals

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3/5/12 The elements in group 2 are;

Symbol Beryllium Magnesium Calcium Strontium Barium Radium

Electron Be Mg Ca Sr Ba Ra

Configuration [He]2s2 [Ne]3s2 [Ar]4s2 [Kr]5s2 [Xe]6s2 [Rn]7s2

3/5/12 Atomic radius

Atomic radius increases as you go down the group The outer electrons being further from the nucleus causes and increase in the size of the atom.

3/5/12 Ionization energy

Since the atomic radius increases down a group, the outer electrons get further away from the nucleus and less energy is required to remove the outer electron. Thus the ionization energy decreases down a group.

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Melting point
12 10 8 6 4 2 0
v

Boiling point

You will see that (apart from where the smooth trend is broken by magnesium) the melting point falls as you go down the Group.

You will see that there is no obvious pattern in boiling points. It would be quite wrong to suggest that there is any trend here whatsoever.

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Reactions with oxygen

All group 2 elements react with oxygen to form its metallic oxide. All burn readily in oxygen, reactions are highly exothermic an reactivity increases down the group.

All group 2 elements tarnish in the air as a layer of oxide is formed on the surface of the metal.

3/5/12 Reactions with water

Beryllium does not react with water v while magnesium reacts slowly. Magnesium reacts rapidly with steam to form magnesium oxide and hydrogen gas. Calcium, strontium and barium all the react with cold water with increasing vigor to give the metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
v

The hydroxides formed are not very soluble, but solubility increases down the group.

Less precipitate is seen going down the group because more of the hydroxide dissolves in the water

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Reactions with acids

All group 2 reacts with acids to form salts and hydrogen gas.

Calcium reacts vigorously with acids while barium reacts violently.

When sulphuric acid reacts with barium, insoluble barium sulphate forms which coats the metal surface and prevents the inner barium from reacting.

3/5/12 THE SOLOUBILITY OF GROUP 2 compounds

Solubility of solid compounds is determined by the energy required to break the lattice into ions.
v

The energy required to break the lattice is endothermic.

Lattice energy is inversely proportional to the sum of the radius of the cation and the radius of the anion.
v

The size of the cation increases down the group, the charge density decreases.

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Solubility's of carbonates

Solubility decreases down the group. The decrease in solubility is similar to that of the sulphate.

The reverse lattice energy exceeds the hydration energy and the enthalpy of solution is positive.

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Solubility of the hydroxides

The solubility of hydroxides increases down the group.

v

Lattice energy decreases down the group. Hydroxides Mg Increase s in solubility

Sulphate and Carbonates Mg Ca Sr Ba Decreas es in solubility

Ca Sr Ba

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Thermal solubility of the group

They have different thermal stabilities, they decompose at different temperatures when heated.
v

Going down the group, the nitrates becomes more stable so higher temperatures are required to decompose them.

The thermal stability of the carbonates of the group 2 elements increases down the group.

3/5/12 Uses of group 2 elements and their compounds

Magnesium is the most commonly used element to make light weight alloys with high tensile strength.
v

Calcium ,Strontium and Barium has less uses due to their high reactivity, they are used in construction, agriculture, and to reduce acidity
v

Calcium, Strontium, and Barium emit brilliant flame colors therefore can be used fireworks.

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