Contents: 01

Groups
⮚ Electronic configuration
⮚ Chemical properties of s-block elements
⮚ Group 1 Elements (Alkali Metals)
⮚ Atomic and Physical properties
⮚ Trends in reactivity
⮚ Group 2 Elements (Alkaline earth metals)
⮚ Trends in reactivity
⮚ Physical and chemical properties
⮚ Group trends: atomic radii, ionic radii, electronegativity, ionization
potential, electropositivity or metallic character, melting and boiling
points
 02
Introduction
• Groups are shown by Roman Numerals

Groups
(A) Subgroups (B) Subgroups
(s and p-block elements) (d and f block elements)
Normal elements Transition elements
 03
Electronic Configuration

It has been observed that the chemical

reactivities of elements, depends upon their
characteristic electronic configuration.
Electronic Configuration of Sodium (11Na)
1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s1
Electronic Configuration of Calcium (20Ca)
1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2
 04
Physical and Chemical Properties of
s-Block Elements
General characteristics of s-block elements
• They are soft metals with low melting and boiling points.
• They are highly reactive metals and provide univalent and bivalent
ions by losing one or two valence electrons respectively.
• They have low ionization energies and are thus highly electropositive.
• They act as strong reducing agent.
• Most of the elements of this block impart characteristic colours to the
flame.
• They form ionic compounds.
 05
Trends in Chemical Properties of
Alkali Metals
• Low ionization energies make the alkali metals, the most reactive family of metals.
• Very high second ionization energies indicate that oxidation number higher than +1, are
ruled out for the alkali metals.
• The cations of alkali metals have low charge and large radii than the radius of any cation
from the same period, so the lattice energies of their salts are relatively low.
• Consequently, most of the simple salts of the alkali metals are water-soluble. Most of the
salts are dissociated completely in aqueous solution and the hydroxides are among the
strongest bases available.
• They react with oxygen and the surface is tarnished due to the oxides formed. Only
lithium burns in air to form the normal oxide, Li2O (White solid).
 06
Trends in Chemical Properties of
Alkaline Earth Metals
• The alkaline earth metals burn in oxygen to form oxides. Beryllium is the least reactive
metal of the group.
• Beryllium form normal oxides. while Sr and Ba form peroxides (SrO2 , BaO2).
• Hydrides are produced by treating the molten alkaline earth metals with hydrogen,
usually under high pressures.
Example:
Calcium reacts with hydrogen at high pressure and form calcium hydride.
𝐶𝑎 + 𝐻2 → 𝐶𝑎𝐻2
• All group II-A elements react with nitrogen on heating giving nitrides.
Example: 3𝑀𝑔 + 𝑁2 → 𝑀𝑔3 𝑁2
• With sulphur, magnesium gives magnesium sulphide, MgS. The other Group II-A metals
also react similarly.
𝑀𝑔 + 𝑆 → 𝑀𝑔𝑆
 07

• All group II-A elements react directly with halogens giving halides of the type MX2.
Example: 𝐶𝑎 + 𝐶𝑙2 → 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑙2
• Magnesium is more reactive than beryllium, even though it is not attacked by cold water.
Magnesium reacts slowly with boiling water and quite rapidly with steam to liberate
hydrogen.
100𝑂 𝐶
Example: 𝑀𝑔 + 𝐻2 𝑂 𝑀𝑔𝑂 + 𝐻2
 Properties of IA Group Elements 08
Increasing Decreasing
• Number of inner shells • Ionization energy
• Atomic size • Electronegativity
• Shielding effect • Electron affinity
• Chemical reactivity • Metallic bonding
• Metallic character • Melting and boiling points
• Reducing power
• Basic character
• Density increases
• Electrical conductivity
 Properties of IIA Group Elements 09
Increasing Decreasing
• Number of inner shells • Ionization energy
• Atomic size • Electronegativity
• Shielding effect • Electron affinity
• Chemical reactivity • Metallic bonding
• Metallic character • Melting and boiling points
• Reducing power
• Basic character
• Density first decreases then
increases
• Electrical conductivity
 10
Q: All of the following properties in s-block elements decrease down
the group, EXCEPT:
A) Ionization energy B) Electron affinity
C) Atomic size D) Electronegativity
Answer Explanation: (C)
In s-block element atomic size increases down the group.
 11
Comparison between the properties of IIA group and
VIIA group

IIA group VIIA group

• Alkaline earth metals • Halogens
• Metals • Non-metals
• Reducing agents • Oxidizing agents
• Lower first ionization energy • Higher first ionization energy
• Smaller value of standard • Greater value of standard
reduction potential Eored (V) reduction potential
• Form basic oxide CaO, MgO • Form acidic oxide Cl2O7
 12
a) Reactions of IIA group elements with Oxygen and
Water
Q:
Reactions of IIA group elements with oxygen are given:
I. 2 B e + O 2  8
o
00 C
o
 2 B e O
II.
5 0 0 -6 0 0 C
2 B a + O 2
    2 B a O

III. 2 C a + O 2
   2C aO
IV.

2 M g + O 2
   2M gO
In which of the following reactions normal oxide (O-2) is not
formed under the given condition:
A) I only C) III and IV
B) II only D) II and III
 13

Explanation: (B)
When Ba is heated in air or oxygen at 500 – 600oC, BaO2 (barium
peroxide) is formed. Under these conditions it does not form BaO.
 14

Q:
Reactions of IIA group elements with water are given:
I. B e + H O  s t e a m         B e O + H
2
R e d h o t te m p e r a tu r e
2

II. M g + H O  s t e a m     M g O + H
o
100 C
2 2

III. C a + 2 H O  c o l d w a t e r    C a ( O H ) + H
2 2 2

IV. B a + 2 H O  c o l d w a t e r    B a  O H  + H
2 2

Which of the following reaction is not possible?

2

A) I only C) I, II and III

B) II only D) I, III and IV
 15

Explanation: (A)
• Beryllium does not react with water even at red hot temperature.
• But remaining alkaline earth metals produce hydroxide/oxide with water.
 16
Reactions of IIA group elements:
Thermal decomposition and solubility
of compounds of group IIA elements:
Q: Which one of the following elements of IIA group is fifth most
abundant on the earth’s crust and the most abundant s-block element?
A) Be C) Ca
B) Ba D) Sr

Answer Explanation: (C) Ca of IIA group Elements Relative abundance

element is fifth most abundant on the Oxygen (O) 50%
earth crust and the most abundant s-block Silicon (Si) 23%
element. Aluminium (Al) 8%
Iron (Fe) 5%
Calcium (Ca) 3.5%
 Q: Which of the following gases is released when 18
magnesium (Mg) reacts with nitrogen gas to form
magnesium nitride followed by hydrolysis:
A) NO2 C) NH3
B) N2 D) H2

Answer Explanation: (C) Ammonia gas is released when magnesium (Mg) reacts with
nitrogen gas to form magnesium nitride followed by hydrolysis.

Q: Which of the following hydroxides of IIA group is

sparingly soluble in water?
A) Be(OH)2 C) Sr(OH)2
B) Mg(OH)2 D) Ba(OH)2
 19
Answer Explanation: (B) Solubility of IIA group elements increases
down the group. Mg(OH)2 is sparingly soluble in water. ∆Hhyd > ∆Hlatt
ΔHsoln = |L. E. | − |ΔHhyd |

 Both lattice energy and hydration energy decrease with the increase in ionic size of cation down the
group.
 If the anion and cation are of comparable size, the cationic radius will only influence the lattice
energy.
 Since lattice energy decreases much more than hydration energy with the increase in cationic size,
solubility will increase as we go down the IIA group.
 e.g. the solubility of alkaline earth metals hydroxides increase down the group because ∆Hhyd > ∆Hlatt.
a) Be(OH)2 is quite insoluble in water
b) Mg(OH)2 is sparingly soluble in water. It is called milk of magnesia and it is used for the treatment of
acidity in stomach.
c) Ca(OH)2 is fairly soluble in water
Sr(OH)2 and Ba(OH)2 are soluble in water
 Q: Which of the following sulphates of IIA group 20
elements is almost insoluble in water?
A) BeSO4 C) BaSO4
B) MgSO4 D) CaSO4

Answer Explanation: (C) BaSO4 is insoluble in water. Down the group the solubility
of sulphates decreases. Because ∆Hlatt > ∆Hhyd
∆Hlatt ∆Hhyd
   
q q q q
H la tt
 H hyd
 
r  r r r

Down the IIA group Down the IIA group

𝒒− 𝒒+
 Due to large size of anion r- , L.E  issmall and hence the decreases in causes
𝒓 𝒓
decreases marginally a−significant decrease in ∆Hhyd +

𝒒−
 r+ + r- increases marginally  decreases upto greater extent
𝒓
−
 ∆Hlatt decreases marginally  ∆Hhyd decreases significantly
Consequently: ∆Hsoln decreases significantly and the solubility of sulphate decreases.
 21

 BeSO4 and MgSO4 are fairly soluble in water.

 CaSO4 is slightly soluble
 SrSO4 and BaSO4 are almost insoluble
 If the anion is too large in size as compared to the cation, the lattice
energy will remain almost constant within a particular group. Since the
hydration energy still decreases down a group, solubility will decrease
as found for alkaline earth metal carbonates and sulphates.
 22
Q: Which one of the following magnesium compounds is
more soluble in water?
A) MgCl2 C) MgBr2
B) Mg(OH)2 D) Mg(NO3)2

Answer Explanation: (A)

 Q: Mark the incorrect statement about the solubilities at 23
(25oC) of the compound of IIA metals:
A) Solubility of MgSO4 and BeSO4 is more than that of sulphates of other IIA
metals
B) Solubility of MgCO3 and BeCO3 is more than that of carbonates of other IIA
metals
C) Solubility of MgCrO4 and BeCrO4 is more than that of chromates of other IIA
metals
D) Solubility of Mg(OH)2 and Be(OH)2 is more than that of hydroxides of other
IIA metals
Answer Explanation: (D)
 24

Note:
FOR FURTHER MCQs SEE PRACTICE BOOK
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATION
Thank you!