Group II
GROUP II ELEMENTS
Beryllium to Barium
Introduction Elements in Group I (alkali metals) and Group II (alkaline earths) are known as
s-block elements because their valence (bonding) electrons are in s orbitals.
Be Mg Ca Sr Ba
Atomic Number 4 12 20 38 56
Electronic configuration 1s22s2 [Ne] 3s2 [Ar] 4s2 [Kr] 5s2 [Xe] 6s2
Atomic Radius Increases down each group electrons are in shells further from the nucleus
Ionic Size Increases down the group
The size of positive ions is less than the original atom because the nuclear charge
exceeds the electronic charge.
Be2+ Mg2+ Ca2+ Sr2+ Ba2+
Ionic radius / nm 0.030 0.064 0.094 0.110 0.134
Melting Points Decrease down each group metallic bonding gets weaker due to increased size
Each atom contributes two electrons to the delocalised cloud. Melting points tend
not to give a decent trend as different crystalline structures affect the melting point.
Melting point / °C
1000
500
0 4 12 20 38 56
Be Mg Ca Sr Ba
Atomic number
Density In general the densities of group 2 elements increases down the group
mass per unit volume increases.
4
3
Density / g cm–3
0
0 4 12 20 38 56
Be Mg Ca Sr Ba
Atomic number
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Ionisation Energy Decreases down the group atomic size increases
Values for Group I are low because the electron has just gone into a new level and
is shielded by filled inner levels. This makes them reactive. Group II elements have
higher values than their Group I equivalents due to the increased nuclear charge.
Be Mg Ca Sr Ba
-1
Ist I.E. / kJ mol 899 738 590 550 500
-1
2nd I.E. / kJ mol 1800 1500 1100 1100 1000
-1
3rd I.E. / kJ mol 14849 7733 4912 4120 3390
There is a large increase for the 3rd I.E. as the electron is now being removed
from a shell nearer the nucleus and there is less shielding.
Reactions of Group 2 elements
The Group 2 metals form ionic compounds. When they
react, their atoms lose the two electrons from their
outermost s subshell and form an ion with the stable
electronic configuration of a noble gas. This creates a 2+
ion. For example, in the ionisation of a magnesium atom
to a magnesium ion:
Mg Mg2+ + 2e−
oxidation number 0 +2
These metals act as reducing agents. The reactivity of group 2 metals increases down the group
because ionisation energy decreases .
Trends in the properties of Group 2 metals, magnesium to barium, and
their compounds
Group 2 metals and oxygen
Generally, the Group 2 metals burn in oxygen to form a metal oxide.
● Beryllium is coated in a thin layer of beryllium oxide which inhibits the reaction meaning
it only reacts in a powder form.
2Be + O2 → 2BeO
● Magnesium burns in oxygen with a bright white flame.
2Mg + O2 → 2MgO
● Calcium burns with a bright white flame which is slightly red at the top.
2Ca + O2 → 2CaO
● Strontium is reluctant to start burning but burns intensely with a white flame.
2Sr + O2 → 2SrO
● Barium burns in oxygen with white flame.
2Ba + O2 → 2BaO
Group 2 metals and water
The reactions of the Group 2 metals with water or steam can be used to see the trend in
reactivity down the group.
● Beryllium reacts with steam only at very high temperatures.
Be + H2O → BeO + H2
● Magnesium has a very slight reaction with cold water. The reaction stops due to the
production of an insoluble coat of magnesium hydroxide.
Mg + 2H2O → Mg(OH)2 + H2
Magnesium burns in steam more readily than cold water:
Mg + H2O → MgO + H2
● Calcium, strontium and barium all react in cold water to produce their hydroxide and
hydrogen gas. The reactions become increasingly vigorous down the group.
E.g. Ca + 2H2O → Ca(OH)2 + H2
Beryllium only reacts with steam at high temperatures but, going down Group 2, the metals react
more readily and rapidly with cold water, with barium reacting the fastest. This shows that
reactivity increases down the group.
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Group 2 metals and dilute acids
Hydrochloric acid
All Group 2 metals react with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce a metal chloride and hydrogen
gas. The reactions get more vigorous as you go down the group. The general equation for this
reaction is: X + 2HCl → XCl2 + H2 (where X is a Group 2 metal).
E.g. Ca + 2HCl → CaCl2 + H2
Sulfuric acid
Dilute sulfuric acid reacts with Group 2 metals to produce a metal sulfate and hydrogen. The
general equation for this reaction is: X + H2SO4 → XSO4 + H2 (where X is a Group 2 metal).
E.g. Mg + H2SO4 → MgSO4 + H2
The reactions with dilute sulfuric acid do not get more vigorous down the group due to the
solubility of the sulfates produced. Beryllium and magnesium produce soluble sulfates so their
reactions with sulfuric acid are similar to their reactions with hydrochloric acid.
Calcium produces a sparingly soluble sulfate. Strontium and barium produce insoluble
sulfates. This means calcium, strontium and barium will only react with sulfuric acid for a short
period of time because the reaction will stop once the insoluble sulfate forms on the metal.
Group 2 oxides
Reactions with water
Apart from beryllium, all Group 2 oxides react with water to produce hydroxides.
● Magnesium oxide produces a solution that is around pH 9. This is because the
magnesium hydroxide is only sparingly soluble so not many OH- ions are released into
the solution.
MgO + H2O → Mg(OH)2
● Calcium oxide (quicklime) undergoes an exothermic reaction to produce calcium
hydroxide (also known as slaked lime or lime water). Calcium hydroxide is partially
soluble so the resulting solution is pH 12.
CaO + H2O → Ca(OH)2
● Strontium oxide and barium oxide produce hydroxides which are increasingly soluble.
They react in the same way as calcium but produce solutions with a higher pH as more
OH- ions get released into the solution.
Reactions with dilute acids
All Group 2 oxides react with dilute acids to produce salt and water.
The general equations for these reactions (where X is a group 2 metal) are:
XO + 2HCl → XCl2 + H2O
XO + 2HNO3 → X(NO3)2 + H2O
XO + H2SO4 → XSO4 + H2O
The reactions with hydrochloric and nitric acid are standard and reactivity increases down the
group.
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The reactions with sulfuric acid are different due to the different solubilities of the products.
Magnesium and beryllium oxides react as expected. Calcium, barium and strontium oxides react
differently because their sulfates are increasingly insoluble. The sulfate formed during the
reaction coats the metal oxide, slowing or stopping the reaction.
Group 2 hydroxides
Reactions with water
The Group 2 hydroxides do not react with water.
Reactions with dilute acids
The Group 2 hydroxides react with dilute acids in the same way as the metal oxides (explained
on the previous page). The only difference is that two water molecules are produced rather than
one.
E.g. Sr(OH)2 + 2HCl → SrCl2 + 2H2O
Metal carbonates
Reactions with water
The Group 2 metal carbonates are insoluble so they do not react with water.
Reactions with dilute acids
Group 2 carbonates react with dilute acids to produce a salt, water and carbon dioxide.
The general equations for these reactions (where X is a Group 2 metal) are:
XCO3 + 2HCl → XCl2 + H2O + CO2
XCO3 + 2HNO3 → X(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2
XCO3 + H2SO4 → XSO4 + H2O + CO2
The reactions with hydrochloric and nitric acid are standard and reactivity increases down the
group.
The reactions with sulfuric acid are different due to the different solubilities of the products.
Magnesium and beryllium carbonates react as expected. Calcium, barium and strontium
carbonates react differently because their sulfates are increasingly insoluble. The sulfate formed
during the reaction coats the metal carbonate, slowing or stopping the reaction.
Thermal decomposition of the nitrates and carbonates
Nitrates
All Group 2 nitrates undergo thermal decomposition to produce a metal oxide, oxygen and
nitrogen dioxide. The nitrates are heated more strongly as you go down the group.
The general equation for this reaction (where X is the Group 2 metal) is:
2X(NO3)2 → 2XO + 4NO2 + O2
Observations: The nitrate and the oxide are both white solids. Nitrogen dioxide is a brown gas.
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Carbonates
All Group 2 carbonates undergo thermal decomposition to produce a metal oxide and carbon
dioxide. The carbonates are heated more strongly as you go down the group.
The general equation for this reaction (where X is the Group 2 metal) is:
XCO3 → XO + CO2
Observations: The carbonate and the oxide are both white solids. Carbon dioxide is a colourless
gas.
Both Group 2 carbonates and nitrates become more stable to heat as you go down the group.
This means as we go down the group, the nitrates and carbonate s have to be heated more
strongly for thermal decomposition to occur.
Predicting trends
The reactions of Group 2 metals, metal oxides, metal hydroxides and metal carbonates generally
indicate that reactivity increases as you go down Group 2.
Reactivity increases down the group because ionisation energy decreases due to the increasing
atomic radius and the shielding effect of electrons. This means further down the group, the
electrons become easier to remove so reactivity increases.
Some exceptions to this trend can be seen when sulfates and hydroxides are produced,
however this is due to the insolubility of some sulfates and hydroxides inhibiting reactions.
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Solubility of hydroxides and sulfates
The solubilities of the Group 2 metal hydroxides and sulfates show trends in the group. The
trend in the solubility of sulfates is opposite to the trend in the hydroxides:
Group 2 element - X Hydroxide - X(OH)2 Sulfate - XSO4
Magnesium Least soluble Most soluble
Calcium
Beryllium
Barium Most soluble Least soluble
Compounds with very low solubilities, like magnesium hydroxide, are often said to be sparingly
soluble. Most sulfates are soluble in warm water except barium sulfate which is insoluble.
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Uses of Group 2 compounds
Calcium hydroxide and calcium carbonate are both compounds used in agriculture.
Calcium carbonate is powdered limestone. Calcium hydroxide is formed when calcium oxide is
added to water. Calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide are often referred to as lime and slaked
lime, respectively.
Crops grow best in soil is around pH 6. If soil becomes too acidic, calcium carbonate or calcium
hydroxide can be added to raise the pH. This is because both compounds react with and
neutralise acids.
Calcium carbonate reacts more slowly than calcium hydroxide since it is not water soluble,
however it is used more often as it is cheaper and easier to handle.
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