GROUP 2

1. Group 2 elements are known as alkaline earth metals or s-block elements as their valence
electrons are in s orbitals.
2. The Group 2 elements are beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium
3. Some information of the Group 2 elements is listed in the table below.

4. All have valence shell electronic configuration of ns2

5. They are all reactive metals and are not found in the free elemental states in nature.
6. In their pure state, they have a silver colour but tarnish rapidly in air due to the formation of
an oxide layer on the metals surface.
Example: 2Mg(s) + O 2 (g) 2MgO(s)
7. They are soft and can be easily cut with a knife.
8. The Group 2 elements give characteristic flame test:

Physical Properties
1. Atomic radius increase down the group as the outermost electrons are in the shells further
from the nucleus and the screening effect of inner electrons increases.
2. Ionic radius (of M2+) increases down the group (same reason as for increase in atomic
radius). Ionic radius is less than the original atom as the nuclear charge exceeds the
electronic charge.
3. Melting points generally decrease down the group as melting bonding gets weaker due to
increased atomic size (the number of delocalized electrons per atom is the same). However,
different crystalline structures can also affect the melting point. (Note: The melting point of
magnesium is lower than that of calcium).
4. Ionisation energies (1st and 2nd) are relatively low and decrease down the group (due to
increasing size and increasing shielding effect of inner electrons).
5. Electronegativity increases down the group as increased size and increased screening
effect make any shared pair of electrons less strongly attracted to the nucleus.

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Chemical Properties
1. General
a) The group 2 elements are typical metals and are very reactive, powerful reducing agents.
M M2+ + 2e
b) They form mostly ionic compounds containing M2+ ions except for some covalent
compounds formed by beryllium; and only have the oxidation number +2 in all their
compounds.
c) Going down the group, the elements generally become more reactive because as proton
number increases, the atomic radius increases, the ionization energy decreases, and atom
loses its electrons more readily to form the M2+ ion. So the metals become more
electropositive.

2. Reaction with Water

a) The reactivity of the elements with water increases down the group. As the elements
become more electropositive their reducing power increases; reducing water to hydrogen
and forming their hydroxides or oxides.
b) Beryllium does not react with cold water. (Will react slowly with steam at very high
temperature)
Be(s) + H 2 O(l) BeO(s) + H 2 (g)
c) Heated magnesium reacts rapidly with steam to form magnesium oxide and hydrogen.
Mg(s) + H 2 O(l) MgO(s) + H 2 (g)
d) Calcium reacts very slowly in cold water but rapidly with hot water to form the sparingly
soluble calcium hydroxide and hydrogen.
Ca(s) + 2H 2 O(l) Ca(OH) 2 (s) + H 2 (g)
e) Strontium and barium react vigorously with cold water to form their respective
hydroxide solution and hydrogen.
Sr(s) + 2H 2 O(l) Sr(OH) 2 (s) + H 2 (g)
Ba(s) + 2H 2 O(l) Ba(OH) 2 (s) + H 2 (g)

3. Reaction with oxygen

a) The metal (when heated) burn in air to form the oxides which are white solids.
General equation: 2M(s) + O 2 (g) 2MO(s)
b) Reactivity increases down the group. Fine barium powder will burn spontaneously in air,
(Barium is normally stored in paraffin oil).
2Be(s) + O 2 (g) 2BeO(s)
2Mg(s) + O 2 (g) 2MgO(s)

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 2Ca(s) + O 2 (g) 2CaO(s)
2Sr(s) + O 2 (g) 2SrO(s)
2Ba(s) + O 2 (g) 2BaO(s)

c) Due to the decreasing polarizing power of the cation down the group, the formation of
peroxides becomes possible. Strontium and barium from SrO 2 and BaO 2 respectively with
excess oxygen but magnesium does not.
Sr(s) + O 2 (g) SrO 2 (s)
Ba(s) + O 2 (g) BaO 2 (s)

d) Properties of the oxides

the oxides are all basic (except BeO which is amphoteric)
the solubility of the oxides in water increases down the group
BeO is insoluble
MgO is very sparingly soluble
CaO is sparingly soluble
SrO soluble
BaO soluble

Forming the alkaline hydroxide

Solubility of oxides depends on solubility of hydroxides that increases down the
group.
MgO(s) + H 2 O(l) Mg(OH) 2 (aq)
(sparingly soluble. Weakly alkaline)
CaO(s) + H 2 O(l) Ca(OH) 2 (aq)
SrO(s) + H 2 O(l) Sr(OH) 2 (aq)
BaO(s) + H 2 O(l) Ba(OH) 2 (aq)
(strongly alkaline)

***Trend in thermal stability of the Nitrates, Carbonates and Hydroxides of

Group 2 elements
All nitrates, carbonates and hydroxides of the Group 2 elements decompose when
heated strongly. Thermal stability increases down the group that is ease of thermal
decomposition decreases.
Nitrates undergo thermal decomposition to form the corresponding oxide, nitrogen dioxide
gas and oxygen.

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 2M(NO 3 ) 2 (s) 2MO(s) + 4NO 2 (g) + O 2 (g)
NO 2 -- brown gas
O 2 -- ignites a glowing splinter

Explanation:
o Thermal decomposition occurs due to the polarization of the large anion by the
Group 2 cation of high charge density.
o Polarisation distorts the electron cloud and weakens bonds, resulting in
decomposition.
o For example, the large carbonate ion decomposes as shown below:

o Polarisation occurs when a small cation distorts the electron cloud of a large
anion. The polarizing effect is greatest between a small cation with a high charge
(high charge density) and a large anion.

The thermal stability of Group 2 compounds increases down the group from Be to Ba. On
descending the group, temperatures required to decompose the compounds increase.
Reason:
o the size of Group 2 cations increases down the group. As all the ions have 2+
charges, the charge density and hence the polarizing power of the cations also
decreases down the group.
o When the polarization of large anions decreases, they are not as easy
decomposed.

The compounds of beryllium are the least stable and undergo the thermal decomposition
most easily.
When the nitrates, carbonates and hydroxides of the elements are heated, the metal oxides
are formed because they are more stable.
Reasons for extra stability of the metal oxide:
o The oxide ion, O2-, is smaller and not as easily polarized compared to the bigger
NO 3 - , CO 3 2- and OH- ions.
o The ionic bond between the cation (M2+) and the smaller oxide ion will be
stronger resulting in higher lattice energy for the metal oxide.

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Solubility of Sulphates
o Sulphates of Group 2 elements are formed when the basic oxides react with sulphuric acid.
The sulphate has the general formula MSO 4 (e.g. MgSO 4 , CaSO 4 )
o The solubility of the sulphates decreases down the group.
o Magnesium sulphate is very soluble in water, but barium sulphate is very sparingly soluble
(insoluble).
o The solubility of an ionic compound depends on two factors:
o The lattice energy of the ionic solid
o The enthalpy of hydration (or hydration energy) of the carbon anion.
o Higher lattice energy will result in a decrease in solubility.
o Energy is required to break the solid lattice apart into its free ions.
M2+X2-(s) M2+(g) + X2-(g)
o This process is endothermic and the amount of energy required per mole of
compound is equivalent to its lattice energy. (Lattice energy is defined as the
energy evolved (exothermic) when 1 mol of an ionic lattice is formed from its
constituent gaseous ions).
o Lattice energy increases when the size of the ion(s) decreases, the charge on the
ion(s) increases; and its charge density increases as more energy is required to
break the stronger ionic bonds that hold the ions together.
o A higher enthalpy will result in an increase in solubility
o When an ionic compound dissolves, the free ions become hydrated by water
molecules, heat energy is given out. The energy involved is the enthalpy of
hydration.
M2+(g) + aq M2+(aq) ; X2-(g) + aq X2-(aq)
o Enthalpy of hydration increases when the size of the ion decreases, the charge
on the ion increases; and its charge density increases.
o Going down the group, the size of the M2+ ion increases and charge density decreases.
Hence both the lattice energy and the enthalpy of hydration decrease.
o However, for the sulphates of the Group 2 elements, the decrease in lattice energy down
the group is very small. This is because the size of the sulphate ion is very large compared
to the size of the cation M2+. So the decrease in lattice energy of the sulphate down the
group is small and will not contribute much to its solubility.
o However the increase in ionic size of the cations from Be2+ to Ba2+ causes a large decrease
in the enthalpy of hydration of the cations down the group. A decrease in enthalpy of
hydration causes the solubility of the sulphates to decrease.
o In summary, going down Group 2, the enthalpy of the hydration of the cations on the lattice

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 energy decrease because the size of the cations increases and the charge density decreases.
However, the enthalpy of hydration decreases much more than the lattice energy. Hence
the solubility of the sulphates decreases down the group.

Anomalous Properties of Beryllium

Some of the properties of beryllium are more similar to the properties of aluminium
(Group 13) than those of the elements of Group 2. These properties a typical of the Group 2
elements arise due to
o the small atomic radius of Be resulting in its very high ionization energy.
o the high charge density of the Be2+ ion giving it a high polarizing power. As a
result, beryllium forms covalent compounds as well as ionic compounds with
covalent character.
o the high charge density of the Be2+ ion also enables it to attract lone pair
electrons from ligands to form complex ion.
o the electronegativity of be is equal to that of aluminium.
Beryllium chloride is a covalent solid with low melting point whereas all the other
chlorides of Group 2 elements are ionic compounds. At room temperature beryllium
chlorides exists as Be2Cl44-It Hydrolyses in water forming fumes of HCl
Beryllium oxides are amphoteric while all the other oxides of Group 2 elements are basic.
Beryllium forms complex ions such as [BeF4 ]2- and [Be(OH) 4 ]2- but the elements ofGroup 2
do not.
Beryllium metal reacts with hot concentrated sodium hydroxide to form salt sodium
beryllate and hydrogen.

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CHAPTER 10: GROUP 2 QUESTIONS

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