Nuclear charge increases → force of attraction for the e- being
removed increases → increase in IE down group
Each added quantum shell → energy of outermost e- increases
Number of filled inner shells increases → force of repulsion on
e- being removed increases → decrease in IE down group
Combined effect of the last 2 factors outweighs the effect of 1st factor → decrease in IE down group
Reactivity
Reactivity of G2 metals increases down group
Atomic radii increases → more shielding → nuclear attraction
decreases → easier to remove outer e-
Melting points
Melting points decrease down the group
Metallic bonding weakens as atomic size increases → distance
between cations + delocalised e- increases → electrostatic
attractive forces between cations + delocalised e- weaken
Atomic Radius
Atomic Radius increases down the group
More e- → more shells of e- → bigger atom
REACTIONS
With Oxygen
Group 2 metals burn in oxygen
Magnesium burns with a bright white flame + formation of white solid
GE: 2M(s) + O2(g) → 2MO(s)
With Chlorine
Group 2 metals combine with chlorine when heated in the gas
GE: M(s) + Cl2(g) → MCl2(s)
With Water
Magnesium reacts slowly with water + doesn't completely react
Calcium, Strontium & Barium react w increasing vigour → increase in effervescence
GE: M(s) + 2H2O(l) → M(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
Reaction with Calcium (Calcium Hydroxide is only slightly soluble in water, so liquid turns cloudy:
Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(s) + H2(g)
Magnesium & Steam
When heated in steam, Magnesium Oxide is formed (white solid) and Hydrogen gas in a vigorous reaction
Mg(s) + H2O(g) → MgO(s) + H2(g)
REACTIONS OF GROUP 2 OXIDES & HYDROXIDES, & TRENDS IN SOLUBILITY
THERMAL STABILITY OF GROUP 2 COMPOUNDS & THE COMPARISON WITH GROUP 1
Carbonates
G2 carbonates decompose on heating → produce G2 oxides + CO2 gas
More thermally stable as you go down the group → bigger cations → less of a polarising effect
→ distort carbonate ion less → C–O bond is less weakened → doesn't break down easily
EXP: Heat known mass of carbonate in boiling tube + pass gas produced through lime water
MgCO3(s) → MgO(s) + CO2(g)
G1 carbonates do not decompose apart from Lithium
Only have +1 charges → don't have a big enough charge density to polarise the carbonate ion
Li → small enough to have polarising effect
Li2CO3(s) → Li2O(s) + CO2(g)
Nitrates
G2 nitrates decompose on heating to produce G2 oxides, O2 gas and NO2 gas
Observe brown gas evolving (NO2) + white nitrate solid melt to colourless solution, then resolidify
More thermally stable as you down the group → bigger cations → less of a polarising effect →
distort carbonate ion less → N–O bond is less weakened → doesn't break down easily
Mg(NO3) decomposes the easiest → Mg2+ ion is smallest + has greater charge density
→ causes more polarisation of nitrate anion → weakens N–O bond
2Mg(NO3)2 → 2MgO + 4NO2 +O2
G1 nitrates do not decompose in the same way as G2 (apart from Lithium nitrate)
→ decompose to give nitrate (III) salt + O2 gas
2NaNO3 → 2NaNO2 + O2
FLAME TESTS & THE TEST FOR AMMONIUM IONS
RED: Lithium, Calcium, Rubidium
YELLOW: Sodium
LILAC: Potassium
BLUE: Caesium
GREEN: Barium
Heat causes an electron to move to higher energy level → e- is unstable at higher e- level → drop back down
→ energy is emitted in form of visible light energy → with wavelength of observable light