S-Block Elements

Generally one question was asked every year from this topic. This is completely theoretical and little memory based. Last minute revision generally helps. The general trends in the properties of compounds of S-block have to be emphasized. i.e. The stability, action of heat , basic nature and solubility of oxides, hydroxides, halides, carbonates, bicarbonates and sulphates. Sodium Oxide (Na2O): Preparation: (i) It is obtained by burning sodium at 180C in a limited supply of air or oxygen and distilling off the excess of sodium in vacuum. 180 2Na + O2 Na2O (ii) By heating sodium peroxide, nitrate or nitrate with sodium. Na2O2 + 2Na 2Na2O 2NaNO3 + 10Na 6Na2O + N2 4Na2O + N2 2NaNO2 + 6Na Properties : (i) It is white amorphous mass. (ii) It decomposes at 400C into sodium peroxide and sodium 400 C 2Na2O Na2O2 + 2Na (iii) It dissolves violently in water, yielding caustic soda. 2NaOH Na2O + H2O Sodium Peroxides (Na2O2): Preparation: It is formed by heating the metal in excess of air or oxygen at 300, which is free from moisture and CO2. 2Na + O2 Na2O2 Properties: (i) It is a pale yellow solid, becoming white in air from the formation of a film of NaOH and Na2CO3. (ii) In cold water (~0C) produces H2O2 but at room temperature produces O2. In ice-cold mineral acids also produces H2O2. Na2O2 + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2O2
25 C 2Na2O2 + 2H2O 4NaOH + O2
0

(iii)

(iv)

Na2SO4 + H2O2 Na2O2 + H2SO4 It reacts with CO2, giving sodium carbonate and oxygen and hence its use for purifying air in a confined space e.g. submarine, ill-ventilated room, 2Na2O2 + 2CO2 2Na2CO3 + O2 It is an oxidising agent and oxidises charcoal, CO, NH3, SO2.

2Na2CO3 + 2Na [deposition of metallic Na] 3Na2O2 + 2C CO + Na2O2 Na2CO3 Na2SO4 SO2 + Na2O2 2NH3 + 3Na2O2 6NaOH + N2 It contains peroxide ion [OO]2

(v)


Oxides of Potassium: K2O, K2O2, Colours: White White K2O3, Red KO2 Bright Yellow and KO3 Orange Solid

Preparation: Heating 6K2O + N2 (i) 2KNO3 + 10K Heating K2O K2O (White) (Yellow) 2KOH K2O + H2O (ii) (iii)
Controlled 2K + O2 K2O2 [Props: Similar with Na2O2] air at 300 C

Passage of O2 through a blue solution of K in liquid NH3 yields oxides K2O2 (white), K2O3 (red) and KO2 (deep yellow) i.e
O2 K2O2 K2O3 KO2 K in liq. NH3 white red yellow KO2 reacts with H2O and produces H2O2 and O2 both 2KOH + H2O2 + O2 2KO2 + 2H2O

KO3 :

10 to 15 C KOH + O3 (ozonised oxygen) KO3 (Dry powdered) (orange solid)

Calcium Oxide (CaO): It is commonly called as quick lime or lime and made by decomposing lime stone at a high temperature about 1000C. CaO + CO2 + 42000 cal CaCO3 Properties: (i) It is white amorphous powder of m.p. 2570C. (ii) It emits intense light (lime light), when heated in oxygen-hydrogen flame. (iii) It is an basic oxide and combines with some acidic oxide e.g. CaSiO3 CaO + SiO2 (iv) CaO + CO2 CaCO3 It combines with water to produce slaked lime. CaO + H2O Ca(OH)2

Magnesium Peroxide (MgO2) and Calcium Peroxide (CaO2): These are obtained by passing H2O2 in a suspension of Mg(OH)2 and Ca(OH)2. Sodium Hydroxides: Preparation: (i) Caustication of Na2CO3 (Gossage's method): Na2CO3 + Ca(OH)2 2NaOH + CaCO3 (suspension) Since the Ksp (CaCO3) < Ksp (Ca(OH)2), the reaction shifts towards right. Properties: (i) It is white crystalline, deliquescent, highly corrosive solid. (ii) It is stable towards heat. (iii) It's aqueous solution alkaline in nature and soapy in touch.


(iv) NH4Cl + NaOH NaCl + NH3- + H2O FeCl3 + 3NaOH Fe(OH)3 + 3NaCl Brown ppt Zn(OH)2 + 2NaCl ZnCl2 + 2NaOH Zn(OH)2 + 2NaOH Na2ZnO2 + 2H2O [Same with AlCl3, SnCl2, PbCl2] soluble Acidic and amphoteric oxides gets dissolved easily e.g. CO2 + 2NaOH Na2CO3 + H2O
2NaAlO2 + H2O Al2O3 + 2NaOH Aluminium and Zn metal gives H2 from NaOH

(v)

(vi) (vii)

2Al + 2NaOH + 2H2O 3H2 + 2NaAlO2 Several non metals such as P, S, Cl etc. yield a hydride instead of hydrogen.e.g. 4P + 3NaOH + 3H2O PH3 + 3NaH2PO2 (Disproportionation reaction)

Potassium Hydroxide: Properties: Same as NaOH (a) It is stronger base compared to NaOH. (b) Solubility in water is more compared to NaOH. (c) In alcohol, NaOH is sparingly soluble but KOH is highly soluble. (d) As a reagent KOH is less frequently used but in absorption of CO2, KOH is preferably used compared to NaOH. Because KHCO3 formed is soluble whereas NaHCO3 is insoluble and may therefore choke the tubes of apparatus used. Magnesium Hydroxide: (i) It can be dried at temperature upto 100C only otherwise it breaks into its oxide at higher temperature. MgO + H2O Mg(OH)2 (ii) It is slightly soluble in water imparting alkalinity. (iii) It dissolves in NH4Cl solution Mg(OH)2 + 2NH4Cl MgCl2 + 2NH4OH Thus, Mg(OH)2 is not precipitated from a solution of Mg+2 ions by NH4OH in presence of excess of NH4Cl. Sodium Carbonate: Preparation: (i) Leblanc Process: Mild heating NaHSO4 + HCl NaCl + H2SO4 (conc.) Strong heating Na2SO4 + HCl NaCl + NaHSO4 (Salt Cake) Na2SO4 + 4C Na2S + 4CO(ii)

Na2CO3 + CaS Na2S + CaCO3 Solvay Process: NH3 + H2O + CO2 NH4HCO3
NaCl + NH4HCO3 NaHCO3 + NH4Cl
150 C 2NaHCO3 Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2
0


Properties: (i) Anhydrous Na2CO3 is called as soda ash, which does not decompose on heating but melts at 852C. (ii) Na2CO3 absorbs CO2 yielding sparingly soluble sodium bicarbonate which can be calcined at 250 to get pure sodium carbonate. Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 2NaHCO3 (iii) It dissolved in acid with effervescence of CO2 and causticised by lime to give caustic soda. Na2CO3 + HCl 2NaCl + H2O + CO2

2NaOH + CaCO3 Na2CO3 + Ca(OH)2

Potassium Carbonate: By leblance process, it can be prepared but by solvay process it cannot be prepared because KHCO3 is soluble in water. Properties: It resembles with Na2CO3, m.p. is 900C but a mixture of Na2CO3 and K2CO3 melts at 712C. Calcium Carbonate: It occurs in nature as marble, limestone, chalk, coral, calcite etc. It is prepared by dissolving marble or limestone in HCl and removing iron and aluminium present, by precipitating with NH3 and then adding (NH4)2CO3 to the solution.

CaCO3 + 2NH4Cl CaCl2 + (NH4)2CO3

Properties: (i) It dissociates above 1000C as follows: CaO + CO2 CaCO3 (ii) It dissolves in water containing CO2 forming Ca(HCO3)2 but is precipitated from the solution by boiling. CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 Ca(HCO3)2 Sodium bicarbonates: Preparation: By absorption of CO2 in Na2CO3 solution.

2NaHCO3 Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 Uses: It is used in medicine and as baking powder.
Potassium bicarbonate: Preparation: Prepared by Le-Blanc process and cant be prepared by solvey process due to its more solubility. It is more alkaline and more soluble in water compared to NaHCO3. Magnesium Sulphate: Preparation: (i) It is obtained by dissolving kieserite. MgSO4. H2O in boiling water and then crystallising the solution as a hepta hydrate. i.e. MgSO4. 7H2O. It is called as Epsom salt. (ii) It is also obtained by dissolving magnesite in hot dil. H2SO4. (iii) (iv) MgCO3 + H2SO4 MgSO4 + H2O + CO2 or by dissolving dolomite (CaCO3, MgCO3) in hot dil. H2SO4 and removing the insoluble CaSO4 by filtration. It is isomorphous with FeSO4. 7H2O, ZnSO4.7H2O


Calcium Sulphate: It occurs as anhydrite CaSO4 and as the dihydrate CaSO4. 2H2O, gypsum, alabaster or satin-spar. Properties: (i) (ii) (iii) an.CaSO4 (Dead burnt. Plaster) Solubility of CaSO4 at first increases upto a certain point and then decreases with rise of temperature. Plaster paris is used in mould making due to its porous body.
H 2O H 2O

Gypsum

1200 C

(Plaster of paris)

2000 C

P-Block Elements This is one of the most important topics in inorganic chemistry Analysis of previous years papers reveals that questions were asked more frequently on the chemistry of Boron, Silicon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulphur. About these non metals the following areas are to be emphasized. (i) Occurrence and isolation (ii) Preparation and structures of hydrides (iii) Preparation, Properties and structures of oxides (iv) Acidic nature, heating effect and structures of oxyacids (v) Preparation, stability orders, hydrolysis and structures of halides The general chemistry of halogens has to be revised once.