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Properties of Group II Elements

Group II elements are called alkali earth metals. Their physical properties, like density, decrease going down the group. Chemically, they react with water, with reactivity increasing down the group. Calcium reacts vigorously with cold water, forming a cloudy solution and releasing heat. The balanced equation is: Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g).

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Nkemzi Elias Nzetengenle
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23 views

Properties of Group II Elements

Group II elements are called alkali earth metals. Their physical properties, like density, decrease going down the group. Chemically, they react with water, with reactivity increasing down the group. Calcium reacts vigorously with cold water, forming a cloudy solution and releasing heat. The balanced equation is: Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g).

Uploaded by

Nkemzi Elias Nzetengenle
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Group II elements (alkali earth metals)

The group II elements are called alkali earth metals for the following reasons:
- Their oxides and hydroxides slightly dissolve in water to form alkaline solutions
- They are very abundant in the earth crust
Physical properties of group II elements
The trend in the variation of physical properties of group II elements is shown on the table below.
Element Density in g/cm
3
Melting point /C boiling point /C
Beryllium 1.85 1289 2!"
#agnesium 1.! "9 1$9!
%alcium 1.5& 8$ 19!
Chemical properties of group II elements
(a) Reaction with water
'roup II elements are less reactive with water compared to group I elements.
Beryllium does not react with water at all. This is due to the presence of the impermeable Be( layer on its
surface. #agnesium reacts with steam to produce hydrogen gas and magnesium o)ide.
2#g*s+ , 2-2(*g+ . 2#g(*s+ , -2*g+.
%alcium/ strontium and barium all react with cold water with increasing vigour as si0es of atoms increase/ to
form the al1aline solution and hydrogen. The general e2uation is3
2#*s+ , 2-2(*l+ . 2#*(-+2*a2+ , -2*g+. 4here # 5 %a/ or 6r or Ba.
The table below gives a summary of observations made when a group II element react with water.
Element Observation when it reacts with water Euation for the reaction
Beryllium *Be+ 7 8o observable change Be*s+ , 2-2( . 8o r)n.
#agnesium
*#g+
7 4hite ash 2#g*s+ , 2-2(*g+ . 2#g(*s+ , -2*g+.
%alcium *%a+
7 6in1s in cold water and fi00es as it reacts
7 %loudy solution since %a*(-+2 is only
sparingly soluble in water
7 -eat release
2%a*s+ , 2-2(*l+ . 2%a*(-+2*a2+ , -2*g+.
!ssignment
1. 4hat is the general name given to group II elements9
2. 6tate the trend in density down group II
&. 6tate two observations made when calcium reacts with water
. 4rite a balanced e2uation for the reaction between calcium and water

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