Period 3 A5 1

PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS AND THEIR COMPOUNDS

Introduction the first two periods in the periodic table are not typical
the first contains only two elements (H, He)
the second (Li - Ne) contains the top elements of each group; these have small
sizes and relatively high ionisation energies so are atypical
Period 3 is best for studying periodic trends.

ELEMENTS
Structure As you move from left to right the elements go from highly electropositive metals through
metalloids with giant structures to the simple molecular structure of non-metals.

Na Mg Al Si P4 S8 Cl2 Ar
< - - - - metals - - - - > metalloid < - non metals (simple molecules) - >

Reactions with...

Water As you move from left to right across a period the metals become less reactive

Sodium vigorous reaction with cold water; strong alkaline solution formed
2Na(s) + 2H2O(g) > 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
very soluble

Magnesium very slow reaction with cold water

Mg(s) + 2H2O(g) > Mg(OH)2(s) + H2(g)
sparingly soluble

vigorous reaction with steam

Mg(s) + H2O(g) > MgO(s) + H2(g)

Oxygen elements must be heated to react; however...

dry phosphorus can ignite spontaneously which is why it is stored under water
the reactivity depends a lot on the state of subdivision

Sodium vigorous reaction with ignited sodium

ionic sodium oxide formed
4Na(s) + 2O2(g) > 2Na2O(s)

Magnesium vigorous reaction with ignited magnesium

ionic magnesium chloride formed
2Mg(s) + O2(g) > 2MgO(s)
2 A5 Period 3

Aluminium sheets of aluminium get slowly coated with thin oxide layer
powdered aluminium shows a vigorous reaction with sparks
ionic aluminium oxide formed
4Al(s) + 3O2(g) > 2Al2O3(s)

Silicon vigorous reaction with silicon powder

covalent giant molecular silicon dioxide formed
Si(s) + O2(g) > SiO2(s)

Phosphorus ignites spontaneously in oxygen - white solid produced

P4(s) + 5O2(g) > P4O10(s)

Sulphur burns with a lilac flame to give a choking gas which fumes in moist air
covalent molecules of sulphur dioxide formed
S(s) + O2(g) > SO2(g)

Chlorine Most can be prepared by direct combination by passing the gas over the heated element
If two chlorides are possible, the higher oxidation state one is formed - get PCl5 not PCl3

e.g. Sodium 2Na(s) + Cl2(g) > 2NaCl(s)

Magnesium Mg(s) + Cl2(g) > MgCl2(s)

Aluminium 2Al(s) + 3Cl2(g) > 2AlCl3(s)

Silicon Si(s) + 2Cl2(g) > SiCl4(l)

Phosphorus 2P(s) + 5Cl2(g) > 2PCl5(s)

Structures sodium chloride giant ionic lattice

magnesium chloride giant ionic lattice

aluminium chloride covalent molecule which can exist as a dimer

Lewis acid - 6 electrons in outer shell of aluminium

Cl
Cl
2 ..Cl
Cl Cl
Al Al Al
Cl Cl Cl
trigonal planar Cl
dimer

silicon(IV) chloride covalent molecule tetrahedral

phosphorus(V) chloride covalent molecule trigonal bipyramidal

Period 3 A5 3

PERIODICITY IN COMPOUNDS

Chlorides - Summary

NaCl MgCl2 AlCl3 SiCl4 PCl5 SCl2 Cl2

melting point / K 1074 987 450 (sub) 203 435 (sub) 195 172
bonding ionic ionic covalent covalent covalent covalent covalent
structure lattice lattice molecular molecular molecular molecular molecular
solubility in water very very hydrolysed hydrolysed hydrolysed
pH of solution 7 7 5 0 0

NaCl, MgCl2 Typical ionic solids existing as giant ionic lattices with high melting points
Both dissolve in water to give neutral solutions containing separate aqueous ions

Sodium NaCl(s) > Na+(aq) + Cl(aq)

Magnesium MgCl2(s) > Mg2+(aq) + 2Cl(aq)

AlCl3 High charge density of Al3+ favours covalency

It is readily hydrolysed giving an acidic solution.

AlCl3(s) + 6H2O(l) > [Al(H2O)6]3+(aq) + 3Cl(aq)

SiCl4 Availability of 3d orbitals means that it is easily hydrolysed producing an acidic solution.

SiCl4(l) + 4H2O(l) > SiO2.2H2O(s) + 4HCl(aq)

PCl5 Unusual for a non-metallic chloride, it exists as [PCl4+][PCl6]

Hydrolysed giving acidic solution.

PCl5(s) + 4H2O(l) > H3PO4(aq) + 5HCl(aq)

Across the period...

bonding changes from ionic to covalent (more likely to be hydrolysed)

react with water rather than dissolve in it
change from giving neutral solutions to acidic solutions
4 A5 Period 3

Oxides - Summary

Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P4O10 SO2 SO3

melting point / K 1548 3125 2345 1833 573 (subl) 200 290
bonding ionic ionic ionic/cov covalent covalent covalent covalent
structure lattice lattice lattice macromol. molecular molecular molecular
classification alkaline alkaline amphoteric acidic acidic acidic acidic
solubility in water very sparingly insoluble insoluble reacts reacts reacts
pH of solution 14 9 7 7 0 3 0

Preparation metals produce basic, non-metals produce acidic oxides

aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide (it shows acidic and basic properties)
ionic oxides have high melting points and conduct electricity when molten
most oxides can be prepared by direct combination (EXC. SO3)

2Mg(s) + O2(g) > 2MgO(s) S(s) + O2(g) > SO2(g)

Na2O Basic, hydrolysed by water to form a strongly alkaline solution.

Na2O(s) + H2O(l) > 2NaOH(aq)

MgO Very low solubility due to metals greater charge density

Basic, reacts with acids to form salts.

e.g. MgO(s) + 2HCl(aq) > MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l)

MgO(s) + H2SO4(aq) > MgSO4(aq) + H2O(l)

Al2O3 Insoluble in water.

Amphoteric, it reacts with acids and alkalis to give salts.

with acids Al2O3(s) + 6HCl(aq) > 2AlCl3(aq) + 3H2O(l)

with alkalis Al2O3(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 3H2O(l) > 2NaAl(OH)4(aq)

SiO2 Insoluble in water

Weakly acidic and reacts with alkalis giving silicates.

SiO2(s) + 2NaOH(aq) > Na2SiO3(aq) + H2O(l)

Period 3 A5 5

P4O10 Dissolves to give an acidic solution.

P4O10(s) + 6H2O(l) > 4H3PO4(aq)

SO2 / SO3 Acidic, non-metal oxides

Both very soluble and react with water to give acidic solutions.

SO2(g) + H2O(l) 2H+(aq) + SO32-(aq) weak acid

SO3(l) + H2O(l) > 2H+(aq) + SO42-(aq) strong acid

Across the period...

bonding changes from ionic to covalent

basic metal oxides change to acidic non-metal oxides
change from giving alkaline solutions to acidic solutions

Q.1 What are Fajans Rules? How can they applied to predict covalency?

Q.2 What is the difference between a weak acid and a strong acid?

Q.3 What shapes have the following ions/molecules;

SO2 SO32-
SO3 SO42-

Q.4 Write an equation for the reaction between MgO and nitric acid.

Q.5 Explain, in terms of its structure and bonding, why silica has a high melting point