S- Block Elements
Physical Properties
1. Melting Point
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
M.P. Decreases down Mg has the lowest M.P.
the group regularly And for rest it decreases
down the group
M.P. Of Alkaline Earth Metals is higher than the alkali
metals due to small size.
2. Boiling Point
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
B.P. Decreases down B.P. decreases down the
the group regularly group
Mg has the lowest B.P. and B.P. decreases till Sr and than increases.
3. Density
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
Density generally Density decreases till Ca
increases down the and than increases
group but potassium Ca < Mg < Be < Sr < Ba
has exceptionally low
density than Na due
to its large atomic
volume
Li < K < Na < Rb < Cs
4. Reducing Character
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
Li is the strongest Reducing character
reducing agent . increases down the group
Li > Rb >Cs >K > Na
The reason behind the strong
reducing nature is due to high
hydration energy of Li+ ion
which compensates for the
high I.E. And sublimation
enthalpy of Li
5. Flame Colour
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
Alkali metals impart Due to their high
characteristic colour ionisation energy Be & Mg
to flame due to low do not impart colour to
ionisation energy flame.
Li – Carmine red
Rb – Red Violet
Na- Golden Yellow
Cs- Blue
K – Violet (Lilac)
Ba – Apple Green
Ca – Brick Red
Sr – crimson red
Chemical Properties
1. Reaction With Air
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
They burn vigorously in oxygen Be & Mg are kinetically inert to air due
forming oxides. Lithium - monoxide, to formation of oxide film.
sodium – peroxide , Rest metals –
superoxide But in powdered form Be burns
Li forms both Li2O & Li3N brilliantly giving BeO & Be3N2.
Tendency to form superoxide in # Mg is more electropositive and Burn
alkali metals increases down the with dazzling fire.
group as larger cations stabilize # Ca,Sr & Ba are readily attacked by air
larger anions. to form oxide and nitride.
These oxides are easily hydrolyzed in water to form
hydroxides with products like O2 and H2O2
M2O + H2O 2MOH
M2O2 + 2H2O 2MOH + H2O2
2MO2 + 2H2O 2MOH + H2O2 + O2
2. Reaction With Water
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
They react with water to They all react with increasing
form Hydroxides and H2 vigour with water to form
M + H2O MOH + ½ H2 hydroxides.
Li reacts less vigourously
but rest metals react
vigorously.
The reaction of Li is less vigorous in spite of having
high tendency to form Li+(aq) ion due to high H.E.
And small size
Due to the vigorous reaction with water Alkali
metals are kept dipped in Kerosene oil or some
organic solvent. Lithium is kept wrapped in paraffin
wax as due to its low density it floats over the
surface of kerosene.
3. Halides
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
All metals form MX type of All metals form MX2 type of
Halides. Halides.
LiF is low soluble due to its All Halides of Alkaline earth
high lattice energy. metals are ionic in nature
Other halides of Li are soluble except Be halides which are
in organic solvents. covalent in nature.
# BeF2 is prepared by the
decomposition of (NH4)2BeF4.
M.P & B.P. Order-
Fluorides>Chlorides>Bromides>Iodides
# BeCl2 exist as a dimer(which dissociates in a monomer at 1200K) in vapour phase and
has a polymeric chain structure in solid state.
# Due to presence of High charge A.E.M’s form Hydrated Chlorides – MgCl2.6H2O,
CaCl2.6H2O, SrCl2.6H2O & BaCl2.2H2O
# Be & Mg chlorides undergo hydrolysis on heating due to high hydration energy, whereas
halides of other metals undergo dehydration.
MgCl2.8H2O MgO(s) + 2HCl(g) + 4H2O(g)
4. Carbonates
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
All metals form thermally All metals form MCO3 type of
stable M2CO3 type of Carbonates.
carbonates(except Li2CO3) # Carbonates are insoluble in
Li2CO3 Li2O(s) + CO2(g) water and solubility decreases
down the group.
# Thermal stability of # All decomposes on heating to
carbonates increases down give oxides.
the group due to low # BeCO3 is very unstable and can
polarising power only be stored in atmosphere of
CO2.
5. Bicarbonates
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
All metals form MHCO3 type of All metals form M(HCO3)2type of
bicarbonates Bicarbonates.
# LiHCO3 does not exist in solid state
rest all are solid.
# NaHCO3(Polymeric) & KHCO3
(Dimeric)exist as solid due to
hydrogen bonding .
6. Sulphates
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
All metals form M2SO4 type of All metals form MSO4type of
Sulphates , which are Sulphates.
thermally stable Solubility of sulphates decreases
down the group.
7. Nitrates
Alkali metals Alkaline Earth Metals
All metals form MNO3 type of All metals form M(NO3)2 type of
Nitrates which are all soluble in Nitrates.
water
# On heating these decomposes # All nitrates decomposes on
as heating
2MNO3 2MNO2 + O2 2M(NO3)2 2MO + 4NO2 +O2
# LiNO3 decomposes as 2LiNO3
Li2O+2NO2+1/2O2
7. Solution in Liq. Ammonia
# Both alkali metals and alkaline earth metals form deep blue solution with liq. NH 3
# The blue colour is due to the solvated or ammoniated electrons
M+ (x + y) NH3 ® [M(NH3 )x ]+ + [e(NH3)y]–
M + (x + y) NH3 ® [ M(NH3)x]2+ + 2 [e(NH3)Y ]—
# Dilute solution is paramagnetic and blue in color whereas concentrated solution is
diamagnetic and bronze in colour.
# These dilute solutions conduct electricity better than any salt in any liquid and
the conductivity is similar to that of the pure metals. Conduction is mainly due
to the presence of solvated electrons.
# The blue solutions of alkali metals in liquid ammonia, decompose very slowly
with liberation of hydrogen
M+(am) + e– (am) + NH3 (l) ® MNH2 (am)+ ½ H2(g)
Due to this, these solutions are good reducing agent.
Evaporation of the ammonia from solutions of alkali metals yields the metal, but
with alkaline earth metals evaporation of ammonia gives hexa- ammoniates of the
metals, [M(NH3)6]2+.
ANOMALOUS PROPERTIES OF LITHIUM
# The anomalous behavior of lithium is due to the
(i) exceptionally small size of its atom and ion,
(ii) high polarising power (i.e., charge/ radius ratio ).
As a result, there is increased covalent character of lithium compound
which is responsible for their solubility in organic solvent.
Points of Difference between Lithium and other Alkali Metals
#Li has the highest m.p. & b.p. In the group
# On combustion in air it forms mainly monoxide, Li2O and the nitride,
Li3N unlike other alkali metals.
# LiCl is deliquescent and crystallises as a hydrate, LiCl. 2H2O whereas
other alkali metal chlorides do not form hydrates.
# Lithium hydrogencarbonate is not obtained in the solid form while all
other elements form solid hydrogencarbonates.
#Lithium nitrate when heated gives lithium oxide, Li2O, whereas other
alkali metal nitrates decompose to give the corresponding nitrite.
# Only Li2CO3 decomposes and rest carbonates are stable.
Diagonal Relationship b/w Li & Mg
Li and Mg show very close similarity in properties due to their similar
size -
# Both lithium and magnesium are harder and lighter than other
elements in the respective groups.
# Both burn in air to form Oxides & Nitrides.
# Both LiCl and MgCl2 are soluble in ethanol.
# Both LiCl and MgCl2 are deliquescent and crystallize to from
aqueous solution as hydrates, LiCl.2H2O and MgCl2.6H2O.
Important Compounds Of Alkali Metals
Sodium Hydroxide(NaOH) Or Caustic Soda
Preparation – It is prepared by the electrolysis of sodium chloride in
Castner –Kellner Cell.
Cathode – mercury Anode – Graphite
Cathode - Na+ + e- Na(Hg) – amalgam
Anode - 2Cl- Cl2(g) + 2e-
The amalgam is treated with water to give NaOH and H2 .
Properties –
# It is a white crystalline solid and has soapy touch.
# Its aq. Solution is strongly basic.
# Reaction with non-metals – Non metals undergo disproportionation
with NaOH
(a) With white phosphours :
3NaOH + P4 3NaH2PO2 + PH3
(b) Halogens
# With cold & dilute NaOH :
2NaOH + Br2 NaBr + NaOBr + H2O
# With hot & concentrated NaOH :
6NaOH + 3Br2 5NaBr + NaBrO3 + 3H2O
(c) With sulphur :
6NaOH + 4S 2Na2S + Na2S2O3 + 3H2O
# On Reaction with amphoteric metals (e.g. Al, Pb, Sn, Zn etc.) H2 gas
is released
4NaOH + 2Al + 2H2O 2NaAlO2 + 3H2
2NaOH + Zn + 2H2O Na2ZnO2 + 3H2
Sodium Carbonate or Washing soda
(Na2CO3.10H2O)
Preparation : Solvay Ammonia Process
The process is based on low solubility of NaHCO3 which can be precipitated.
In this process CO2 gas is passed through a concentrated solution of NaCl
saturated with ammonia –
NH3 + CO2 + H2O NH4HCO3
NH4HCO3 + NaCl NaHCO3 + NH4Cl
2 NaHCO3 Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O
NaHCO3 is heated at 150oC to obtain Na2CO3
2 NaHCO3 Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O
Recovery of ammonia is done by treating solution containing NH4Cl
with Ca(OH)2
2NH4 Cl + Ca(OH)2 2NH3 + 2H2O + CaCl2
Note :This process cannot be used to produce K2CO3 as KHCO3 is
highly soluble.
# It is white crystalline solid. Na2CO3.10H2O. This form is called
washing soda.
# Na2CO3.10H2Ois called washing soda.
# NaHCO3 – Baking soda (used as mild antiseptic
agent & fire extinguishers)
# Glauber’s Salt - (Na2SO4.10H2O)
NaCl (Sodium Cholride)
The most abundant source of sodium chloride is sea water which
contains 2.7 to 2.9% by mass of the salt. In tropical countries like
India, common salt is generally obtained by evaporation of sea water.
Approximately 50 lakh tons of salt are produced annually in India by
solar evaporation.
Crude sodium chloride, generally obtained by crystallisation of brine
solution, contains sodium sulphate, calcium sulphate, calcium
chloride and magnesium chloride as impurities. Calcium chloride,
CaCl2, and magnesium chloride, MgCl2 are impurities because they
are deliquescent (absorb moisture easily from the atmosphere).
To obtain pure sodium chloride, the crude salt
is dissolved in minimum amount of water and
filtered to remove insoluble impurities. The
solution is then saturated with hydrogen
chloride gas. Crystals of pure sodium chloride
separate out. Calcium and magnesium chloride,
being more soluble than sodium chloride,
remain in solution. Sodium chloride melts at
1081K. It has a solubility of 36.0 g in 100 g of
water at 273 K. The solubility does not increase
appreciably with increase in temperature.
Uses : (i) It is used as a common salt or table
salt for domestic purpose.
(ii) It is used for the preparation of Na2O2,
NaOH and Na2CO3.
Important Compounds Of Alkaline Earth Metals
CaO – Quick lime or Burnt lime
CaO + NaOH – Soda lime
Aq. Solution of CaO is called slaked lime [Ca(OH)2]
A filtered solution of Ca(OH)2 is called lime water.
# When Cl2 gas is passed through Ca(OH)2 bleaching powder is
formed.
3Ca(OH)2 + 2Cl2 CaOCl2
Composition of bleaching powder
Ca(OCl)2. Ca(OH)2. CaCl2. 2H2O
Calcium Sulphate (CaSO4)
It’s found in nature as (CaSO4) & gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O)
# When gypsum is heated to 120oC it converts into Plaster of
Paris(CaSO4.1/2 H2O) and at about 200oC it becomes anhydrous (Dead
Burnt Plaster).
Cement Or Portland Cement
Composition
CaO + SiO2 + Clay + Oxides of Fe,Al,Mg [ Fe2O3,MgO,Al2O3]
For a good quality cement ratio of SiO2 to Al2O3 should be b/w 2.5 to
4.
Raw material for cement are Limestone & Clay and this mixture is known
as “Cement Clinker”.
This clinker is mixed with Gypsum to form Cement.
BIOLOGICAL ROLES
Adult human(70Kg) – 90 g Na & 170 g K
Sodium Potassium
# Found primarily outside # Found primarily inside the
the cell. unit cell.
# Helps in transmission of # Helps in transmission of
Nerve signals Nerve signals
# Regulates flow of water # Activates many enzymes
across the cell # Participate in oxidation of
# Transport of Sugar & glucose to give ATP
Amino acids into cells
BIOLOGICAL ROLES
Adult human – 1200 g Ca & 25 g Mg
Calcium Magnesium
# About 99% of the Ca is # Energy in body is stored in
found in bones and teeth ATP through phosphate
# Ca concentration in linkages and the formation of
plasma is regulated at these linkages is catalyzed by
100mgL-1. Mg.
# Cholrophyll the green
pigment contains Mg
Settling Of Cement
In the first stage, there is conversion of Plaster of Pairs
into orthorhombic form of gypsum (setting step) and in
the second stage orthorhombic form changes into
monoclinic form (hardening step).
Setting
CaSO4.1/2H2O CaSO4.2H2O
H2O CaSO
Hardening
4.2H2O
POP Orthorhombic Monoclinic
Q.1 Potassium carbonate is not prepared by :
(A) Solvay process (B) Le-Blanc process
(C) Prechts process (D) none of these.
Q.2 If NaOH is added to an aqueous solution of Al 3+ ions, a white precipitate appears
and on adding excess of NaOH, the precipitate dissolves. In the solution, aluminium
exists in the :
(A) anionic part (B) cationic part
(C) both in anionic and cationic part (D) colloidal form
Q.3 Zinc reacts with excess of caustic soda to form :
(A) Zn(OH)2 (B) ZnO (C) Na2ZnO2 (D) Zn(OH)2.ZnCO3
Q.4 Thermal stability of MCO3 is in order :
(A) BeCO3 < MgCO3 < CaCO3 < SrCO3 < BaCO3 (B) MgCO3 < BeCO3 < CaCO3 < SrCO3 < BaCO3
(C) CaCO3 < SrCO3 < BaCO3 < BeCO3 < MgCO3 (D) BaCO3 < SrCO3 < CaCO3 < MgCO3 < BeCO3
Q.5 On commercial scale, sodium hydroxide is prepared by :
(A) Dow's process (B) Solvay process (C) Castner-Kellner cell (D) Hall-Heroult process
Q.6 What products are formed during the electrolysis of a concentrated aqueous
solution of sodium chloride ?
I. Cl2 (g) , II . NaOH (aq). , III. H2(g).
(A) I only (B) I and II only (C) I and III only (D) All of these
Q.7 Which of the following gives sodium hydroxide along with hydrogen gas on reaction
with water ?
(A) Sodium ferrite (B) Sodium amalgam
(C) Sodium peroxide (D) Sodium carbonate.
Q.8 Which of the following product is obtained as insoluble, when ammonical solution
of brine is saturated with carbon dioxide gas ?
(A) (NH4)2CO3 (B) NaHCO3 (C) NH4HCO3 (D) NH4Cl
Q.9 In Solvay process of manufacture of Na2CO3 , the by products obtained from
recovery tower are :
(A) NH4Cl, CaO, CO2 (B) CaO, Na2CO3, CaCl2
(C) CaCl2 , CO2 , NH3 (D) Na2CO3 , CaCl2 , CO2
Q.10 Na2[Be(OH)4] is formed when ;
(A) BeO reacts with NaOH solution. (B) Be(OH)2 reacts with NaOH solution.
(C) both (A) and (B) are correct. (D) none of the above is correct.
Q.11 The following flow diagram represents the manufacturing of sodium carbonate ?
(a) (b )
2 NH3 + H2O + CO2 (NH4)2CO3 NH
4HCO3
Which of the following option describes the underlined reagents, products and reaction
conditions ?
Option (a) (b) (.c) (d)
(A) Carbon dioxide NaCl NH4Cl Heat
(B) Carbon dioxide NaCl NH4Cl catalyst
(.C) Higher tempt. NaCl NH4Cl Heat
(D) Higher pressure NaCl NH4Cl Catalyst
Q.12 Gypsum on heating at a temperature of 393 K yields :
(A) calcium oxide (B) hemihydrate of calcium sulphate
(C) anhydrous calcium sulphate (D) none of these.
Q.13 A metal (M) burns with dazzling brilliance in air to give a white powder. The
white powder reacts with water to form a white precipitate and a colourless gas with a
characteristic smell. The metal (M) decomposes hot water but not cold water, liberating
the inflammable hydrogen gas. The metal(M) is :
(A) K (B) Ca (C) Mg (D) Rb
Q.14 Crude common salt becomes damp on keeping in air because :
(A) It is hygroscopic in nature.
(B) It contains MgCl2 and CaCl2 as impurities which are deliquescent in nature.
(C) (A) and (B) both.
(D) none.
Q.15 Setting of plaster of paris involves :
(A) the oxidation with atmoshperic oxygen.
(B) the removal of water to form anhydrous calcium sulphate.
(C) the hydration to form the orthorhombic form of gypsum.
(D) the reaction with atmospheric carbondioxide gas.
