The S-Block Elements
The S-Block Elements
Card
Chemistry
The s-Block Elements
Li Be
Na Mg
K Ca
Rb Sr
IA Alkali metals
Cs Ba
IIA Alkaline Earth
Fr Ra
metals
Chapter summary
• Characteristic properties of the s-block
elements
• Variation in properties of the s-block
elements
• Variation in properties of the s-block
compounds
• Uses of compounds of the s-block elements
Characteristic properties of s-
block elements
• Metallic character
• Low electronegativity
• Basic oxides, hydroxides
• Ionic bond with fixed oxidation states
• Characteristic flame colours
• Weak tendency to from complex
Metallic character
• High tendency to
lose e- to form
positive ions
• Metallic character
increases down both
groups
Electronegativity
• Low nuclear attra Group I Group II
ction for outer ele Li 1.0 Be 1.5
ctrons Na 0.9 Mg 1.2
• Highly electropos K 0.8 Ca 1.0
itive
Rb 0.8 Sr 1.0
• Small electronega
Cs 0.7 Ba 0.9
tivity
Fr 0.7 Ra 0.9
Basic oxides, hydroxides
Oxide Hydroxides Oxide Hydroxides
Li2O LiOH BeO Be(OH)2
Na2O, NaOH MgO Mg(OH)2
Na2O2 CaO Ca(OH)2
K2O2, KO2 KOH SrO Sr(OH)2
Rb2O2, RbOH BaO, Ba2O2 Ba(OH)2
RbO2
Cs2O2, CsOH
CsO2
Oxides, Peroxide, Superoxide
. .-
.. .. 2-
:O:.O:
:O:O: Li does not form
.. ..
.. .. peroxide or super oxide
Super oxide Li2O2 Li2O + ½ O2
Peroxide ion
Hydroxides
Group I
hydroxides Li Na K Rb Cs
Group II
hydroxide Be Mg Ca Sr Ba
HCl(aq) sample
Weak tendency to form complex
Complex formation is a common feature of d-block
element. e.g. Co(NH3)63+
:NH3
s-block metal ions have
no low energy vacant H3N: :NH3
orbital available for bon Co
ding with lone pairs H3N: :NH3
of surrounding ligands, t
hey rarely form comple :NH3
xes.
Variation in properties of
elements
• Atomic radii
• Ionization enthalpies
• Hydration enthalpies
• Melting points
• Reactions with oxygen, water, hydrogen
and chlorine
Atomic radii (nm)
Li 0.152 Be 0.112
Na 0.186 Mg 0.160 Fr
K 0.231 Ca 0.197
Ra
Li
Rb 0.244 Sr 0.215
Cs 0.262 Ba 0.217 Be
Fr 0.270 Ra 0.220
Ionization Enthapy
Group I 1st I.E. 2nd I.E.
Group I 1st I.E. 2nd I.E. 3rd I.E.
Li 519 7300
Be 900 1760 14800
Na 494 4560
Mg 736 1450 7740
K 418 3070
Ca 590 1150 4940
Rb 402 2370
Sr 548 1060 4120
Cs 376 2420
Ba 502 966 3390
Ionization Enthalpy
1st I.E.
2000
600
Be+
Li Na
500 1500
2nd IE
400 K
Rb 1000 Ca+
Cs
300 Be Ba+
500 Ca
1st IE Ba
Ionization Enthalpy
Group I
Group II
General trends:
1. On going down both groups, hydration enthalpy
decreases.
(As the ions get larger, the charge density of the
ions decreases, the electrostatic attraction between
ions and water molecules gets smaller.)
Li -3.05 volt
Na -2.71
K -2.93 Be -1.85 volt
Rb -2.99 Mg -2.38
Cs -3.20 Ca -2.87
Sr -2.89
Ba -2.90