Section 10: s-Block Elements

(Alkali and Alkaline earth

metals)
S-Block Elements
The Alkali Metals- Group IA
• The most active of the metals, those of Group IA and the heavier members of
Group IIA, displace H2(g) even from pure water
The Alkali Metals- Group IA
• The alkali metals have two notable physical properties: they are all soft and
have low melting points. When freshly cut, the alkali metals are bright and
shiny—typical metallic properties.
• The metals quickly tarnish, however, as they react with oxygen in the air
• Irregular trends suggest that factors are working against each other in
determining a property (such as the density “discrepancies” between sodium
and potassium)
Diagonal Relationships
The anomalous property of Lithium
• Lithium carbonate, fluoride, hydroxide, and phosphate are much less
water-soluble than those of other alkali metals
• Lithium is the only alkali metal that forms a nitride (Li3N)
• When it burns in air, lithium forms a normal oxide (Li2O) rather than a
peroxide or a superoxide
• Lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide decompose to form the oxide on
heating, while other Group 1A carbonates and hydroxides are thermally
stable
Reasons for the anomalous property of
Lithium
• The extremely small size of Lithium & its ion.
• Greater polarizing power of lithium ion ( Li+), due to its small size which
result in the covalent character in its compounds.
• Least electropositive character and highest ionization energy as compared
to other alkali metals.
• Non availability of vacant d-orbitals in the valence shell.
Typical Alkali Metal Reactions
Alkali metals and living matter
• Sodium ions are found primarily in fluids outside cells and potassium ions are
abundant in fluids within cells
• Because most alkali metal compounds are water soluble, many acidic drugs
are administered in the form of their sodium or potassium salts
• Lithium carbonate is used in medicine to level out the dangerous manic
“highs” that occur in manic-depressive psychoses
Group 2A Metal Properties
Preparation of the Alkaline Earth Metals
• Be: the mineral beryl (3 BeO·Al2O3·6 SiO2) is first converted to BeF2 which
is reduced to beryllium using magnesium as the reducing agent
• Ca: obtained by electrolysis of molten CaCl2
• Sr and Ba: made by electrolysis or high-temperature reduction of their
oxides using aluminum as the reducing agent
• Mg is obtained by the electrolysis of molten MgCl2, in a process called The
Dow Process
The Dow Process
Characteristic properties of s-block elements
Characteristic properties of s-block elements
Characteristic properties of s-block elements
Characteristic properties of s-block elements
Characteristic properties of s-block elements
Variation in properties of elements – Atomic Radii
Variation in properties of elements – Atomic Radii
Variation in properties of elements – Ionization
Enthalpy
Variation in properties of elements – Ionization
Enthalpy
Variation in properties of elements – Hydration
Enthalpy
Variation in Melting Points
Variation in Melting Points
Reactions with oxygen
Reactions with oxygen - Lithium
Reactions with oxygen
Reaction with water- Formation of hydroxides
Reaction with hydrogen
Reaction with halogens
• The alkali metals combine directly with halogens under appropriate
conditions forming halides of general formula MX.
• These halides can also be prepared by the action of aqueous halogen
acids (HX) on metals oxides, hydroxides or carbonate.
• All these halides are colourless, high melting crystalline solids having
high negative enthalpies of formation
Variation in Properties of the compounds
Variation in Properties of the compounds
Variation in Properties of the compounds
Relative Thermal Stability
Thermal Stability
Thermal Stability
Thermal Stability
Thermal Stability
Relative Solubility of Group II hydroxides/Sulphates
Explanation of Solubility
Solubility
Uses of the Alkaline Earth Metals
• Alloys of Be with other metals have many applications such as springs, clips,
and lightweight structural materials
• Mg has a lower density than any other structural metal and is an important
metallurgical reducing agent. Mg is also used in batteries and fireworks
• Ca is used to reduce the oxides or fluorides of less common metals to the free
metals. Also forms alloys with aluminum, silicon, and lead
Solvay Process – Sodium Carbonate
Solvay Process – Sodium Carbonate
• The suspended sodium hydrogen carbonate is removed from the
carbonating tower and heated at 300°C to produce sodium
carbonate.
• 2NaHCO3 = Na2CO3+CO2+H2O
• This CO2 is recycled back into the carbonating tower
Preparation of sodium chloride
• Mostly all the chemical compounds which consist of chlorine or sodium
is usually derived from salts. It is distributed abundantly in nature. Salt is
a major ingredient of the dissolved materials in seawater.
• Pure salt can be obtained from mineral halite. Sodium chloride is
obtained by mining the deposits and brine solution is obtained by
passing water into the deposits. Hence the salts get dissolved then the
solution is pumped out.
• Evaporation of the sea water is one of the major processes used to
obtain salt and is most widely followed in countries like India. The
crystals obtained usually consists of impurities such as calcium
sulfate, sodium sulfate etc. Pure crystals are obtained by dissolving the
salts with little water and filtering the solution
Sodium chloride
Preparation of Sodium Compounds from NaCl
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate
Biological importance of sodium and potassium.
• A typical 70 kg man contains about 90g of Na and 170g of K compared with
only 5g of iron and 0.06g of copper.
• Potassium ions are present in higher concentration inside the cells than
sodium ions and they are present outside the cell in blood plasma.
• Because of large concentration gradient inside and outside the cells, the
transport of sodium ion into the cells is favoured. To pump out these ions
again from the cell to maintain concentration gradient large driving force is
carried out. The energy for this process is provided by ATP molecules.
Calcium compounds
Calcium compounds
Uses of CaO
Uses of LIMESTONE
Biological Importance of Magnesium
Biological Importance of Calcium