Lecture

S-Block Elements
DESIGNED BY:

M JUNAID SAHOO

Lecturer Chemistry in HED (Govt. of Punjab)

Lecturer Chemistry Preparation 2023

Alkali Metals; Group -1
Elements

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Alkali Metals; Group -1 Element
Ø The group 1 elements have ns1 electronic configuration and are highly reactive
metals.

Physical Properties of Alkali Metals :

1.Atomic Size
Largest in their respective period (except
noble gas element)
Size increases from Li to Cs due to addition
of an extra shell
Li < Na < K < Rb < Cs
Cs > Rb > K > Ba > Sr > Ca > Na > Mg > Li > Be

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2.Oxidation State
The group 1 elements exhibit +1 oxidation state
3.Ionization Energy
⚫The value of first ionization energies for the atoms in this
group are lower than those for any other group in the whole
periodic table. (Li > Na > K > Rb > Cs)
⚫Second ionization energy of alkali metals is very high
because by loosing one electron they achieve inert gas
configuration.
⚫Li > Na > K > Rb > Cs (Ionization energy)
4. Density
Alkali metals have large size which accounts for their low
density
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5. Melting and Boiling point
M.P. and B.P. of alkali metals are low due to weak interatomic bonds
because of their large atomic radii and presence of only 1 valence
electron. (Li > Na > K > Rb > Cs)
6. Electropositive Character

7. Conductivity
Due to the presence of loosely held valence electrons which are free to move in a
metal structure, these elements are good conductor of heat and electricity.

8.Nature of Bonds
The electronegativity values being low, they combine with other elements
to form ionic bond.
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9. Electronegativity
The tendency to attract elements is low as the alkali metals are electropositive. The
electronetativity, thus decreases from Li to Cs as the electropositive character increases.

10. Specific Heat

The specific heat values decrease from Li to Cs.

11. Heat of Atomisation

Heat of atomisation decreases from Li to Cs.

12. Hydration of Ions

The ions are heavily hydrated. The smaller the size of the ion, the greater is the
degree of hydration. Thus the degree of hydration decreases down the group from
Li+ to Cs+. Thus with the increase in hydration electrical conductivity decreases.
13. Lattice Energy
Salts of alkali metals are ionic solids. Lattice energy of salts of alkali metals having
common anion decreases on descending down the group.

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14. Photoelectric Effect
K, Rb and Cs have quite large atomic size, so their ionization energy is very low.
Due to very low ionization energy their valence shell electrons gets excited even by absorbing
visible light.
That’s why Cs is used in photoelectric cells.
Elements Colour
15. Flame Test
Li Crimson red
F i r s t g r o u p e l e m e n t s a n d their s a l t s g i v e s Na Golden Yellow
characteristic color to Bunsen flame. By flame K Violet
energy electron of outer most shell get excited,
Rb Red Violet
which on returning back to its ground state
Cs Blue
releases absorbed flame energy as a visible
light.
The energy released is min. in the case of Li +
and increases in order Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+.

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 Chemical Properties Reaction Comment
Hydroxides are strongest base
Reactivity 2M  2H2O  2MOH  H2
known

These elements are very reactive, so Monoxide formed by Li and to a small

do not found in free state in nature. 4Li  O2  2Li2O
extent by Na

Na and small extent by Li form their

2Na  O2  Na2O2
peroxide ion.

Superoxide formed by K, Rb, Cs.

K  O 2  KO 2

Ionic salt like hydrides

2M  H2  2MH

Nitride formed only by Li

6 Li  N2  2Li3N

All metals form sulphides

2M  S  M2S

All the metals form halides

2M  X2  2MX

All the metals form amides

2M  2NH3  2MNH2  H2

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 Reactivity towards air (Oxides)
Alkali metals gets tarnish in air due to the formation of oxide at their
surface hence they are kept in kerosene or paraffin wax..

Normal oxides – Monoxide

4Na  O2  2Na 2O
Ø Alkali metal superoxides have
Peroxides unpaired electron and hence are
paramagnetic
2Na  O2 (excess) 
300C
 Na2O2
Superoxides Ø whereas oxides and peroxide
are diamagnetic and colourless.
M  O2 (excess)  MO 2
(M = K, Rb, Cs) Ø Super oxides are stronger
oxidizing agents than peroxides.
Ø Solubility of oxides increases down the group.
Ø Basic Character increase down the group. Ø Stability of Oxides :
Normal oxide > Peroxide > Superoxide

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 Reactivity towards Hydrogen (Hydrides)

v Alkali metals combine with H2 forming ionic hydrides

2M  H2  2MH

v Hydrides of alkali metals are water to give back hydrogen

MH  H2O  MOH  H2

v Thermal stability : LiH > NaH > KH > RbH > CsH

v Basic property : CsH > RbH > KH > NaH > LiH

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 Reaction with Water (Hydroxides)
v Alkali metals react vigorously with H 2O forming hydroxides with the
liberation of H2.
2M  2H2O  2MOH  H2
v Reactivity with water increase form Li to Cs.

Li  least reactive towards water

Na reacts vigorously
K  reacts producing a flame}

Rb, Cs  reacts explosively

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v Alkali Metal hydroxides are all crystalline solids.

v Solubility of hydroxides increase down the group.

(Slightly soluble ) LiOH < NaOH < KOH < RbOH < CsOH
(highly soluble)

vSolubility increase down the group b/c Lattice energy

decrease more rapidly than hydration energy.

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 Carbonates & Bicarbonates

v Stability and solubility of carbonates, bicarbonates and nitrates increases

down for group 1 elements.

v More will be the stable product , easier will be the decomposition

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 Sulphates

v All the Alkali metal gives sulphates and they are all soluble in water.

v Solubility of Alkali metal Sulphates, decreases down the group.

Because of lower hydration energy as compared to Lattice energy.

Li2SO4 > Na2SO4 > K2SO4 > Rb2SO4 > Cs2SO4

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 Extraction of Sodium
Ø Na is obtained on large scale by 2 processes.

Castner’s process :
In this process, electrolysis of fused NaOH is carried out at 330°C
using iron as cathode and nickel as anode.
Down’s process :
It involves the electrolysis of fused NaCl containing CaCl2 and KF,
using iron as cathode and graphite as anode, at about 600°C.
In Down’s process Na is obtained by electrolysis of a mixture of NaCl (40%)
and CaCl2 (60%) in fused state.
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 Preparation of Sodium Hydroxide

Electrolytic process : Electrolysis of Aqueous NaCl.

electricity is passed through the aqueous solution.

Following methods are used in electrolysis of NaCl:

(i) Diaphragm cell
(ii) Castner-Kellner cell

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Castner-Kellner cell :
An electrolytic cell used industrially for the production of sodium hydroxide. The usually
iron cell is filled with brine (sodium chloride solution) and employs liquid mercury as the
cathode. The sodium liberated there forms an amalgam with the mercury, which is run
off and reacted with water to give sodium hydroxide (and hydrogen); the mercury is
then re-used. Chlorine gas produced at the anode is another valuable by-product.

At Cathode:
2 Na + 2e 2Na
Na+ Hg Na-Hg (Amalgam)

At Anode:
2Cl- Cl2 +2e

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Alkaline Earth Metals;
Group -2 Elements

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Alkaline Earth Metals; Group -2 Element
Ø The group 1 elements have ns2 electronic configuration and are
highly reactive metals.

Elements Symbols Atomic

Electronic Physical Properties of Alkali Metals :
Configuration
Number 1. Atomic Size
Beryllium Be 4 [He]2s2
⚫Smaller than IA group elements,
Magnesium Mg 12 [Ne]3s2 since extra charge on nucleus
Calcium Ca 20 [Ar]4s2 attracts the electron cloud.
Strontium Sr 38 [Kr]5s2
⚫Size increases gradually from Be
Barium Ba 56 [Xe]6s2 to Ba.
Radium Ra 88 [Rn]7s2 Be < Mg < Ca < Sr < Ba

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2.Oxidation State
The group 2 elements exhibit +2 oxidation state.

2.Ionization Energy
⚫First ionization energy is higher than IA group because of smaller
atomic size and completely filled s-orbital (stable electronic
configuration).
⚫Second ionization energy is lesser than IA group.

4.Density
The size of group 2 elements are smaller than those of group 1 thus these
elements have higher density than group 1 elements. Density increases
from Be to Ra.

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(5) Melting and Boiling point :
Since the cohesive force decreases down the group the melting point of
elements of group 2 decreases down the group.
Exception :
Mg has the lowest melting point. Boiling

Boiling points do not show regular trends. They are harder than alkali
metals.
(6) Electropositive Character :
Their atomic size is smaller than IA group so these are lesser electro-
positive than IA group. Electropositivity increases from Be to Ba.

(7) Conductivity :
These are also good conductor of heat and electricity due to presence
of two free electrons.
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(8) Nature of Bonds :
Be mainly forms covalent compound. The rest of the elements in group 2
forms ionic bond.

(9) Flame Test: Element Colour

Mg Bright White

Ca Brick red

Sr Crimson red

Ba Apple green

Ra Crimson
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(10) Electronegative Values :
The electronegativity values of group 2 are low but are higher than the
values of group 1. The value of decreases down the group.

(11) Lattice Energy :

Lattice energy of salts of alkaline metals having common anion decreases on
descending down the group.

(12) Hydration Energy :

The hydration energies of the alkaline earth metal ions are 4 or 5 time
greater than for alkali metal ions due to their smaller size and increased
charge. Dehydration decreases down the group as the size of the ions
increases.

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(13) Photoelectric Effect:
These elements do not show this property as their atomic size is small hence
ionization energy is higher than IA group

(14) Standard Oxidation Potential

Standard
Oxidation Oxidation
Element
Reaction Potential
(volt)

Be Be  Be 2+ + 2e – 1.85

Mg Mg  Mg 2+ + 2e – 2.37

Ca Ca  Ca 2+ + 2e – 2.87

Sr Sr  Sr 2+ + 2e – 2.89

Ba Ba  Ba 2+ + 2e – 2.90

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 Chemical Properties
Reactivity towards air (Oxides)
v Alkaline earth metals reacts with O2 to form ‘MO’ type oxides.
(M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba)
In II-A only Ca, Sr, Ba form peroxide.
Ex : CaO2, SrO2, BaO2

• BeO shows amphoteric property.

MgO → weak basic
CaO, SrO and BaO → Strong basic
Basic properties increases from BeO to BaO.
• Solubility of Alkaline earth metal oxides increases down the
group. BeO & MgO are insoluble but others are soluble and form
corresponding hydroxides
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 Reactivity towards Hydrogen (Hydrides)

⚫Except Be all the alkaline metals forms MH 2 type hydrides (MgH 2 , CaH 2 ,
SrH2, BaH2) on heating directly with H2.

⚫BeH2 is prepared by action of BeCl2 with LiAlH4 2BeCl2 + LiAlH4  2BeH2 + LiCl
+ AlCl3
Reducing agent

⚫BeH2 and MgH 2 are covalent, other are ionic.

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 Reactivity towards Water (Hydroxides)

⚫ Calcium, strontium, barium and radium decompose cold water

readily with evolution of hydrogen.
M + 2H2 O M(OH)2 + H2
⚫Magnesium decomposes boiling water but beryllium does not react with
water, even when red hot, its protective oxide film survives even at high
temperature as its oxidation potential is lower than the other members.

⚫Reactivity of alkaline earth metals increases on moving down the group

as the oxidation potential increases. However, the reaction of alkaline
earth metals is less vigorous than alkali metals.

⚫Solubility of Alkaline earth metal hydroxides increases down the group

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 Carbonates & Bicarbonates

v Unlike Alkali metal carbonates, Alkaline metal carbonates are slightly

soluble in water.

v In paradox to Alkali metals, their carbonates decomposition & solubility

decrease down the group.

v More will be the stable product , easier will be the decomposition

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 Nitrates
v Solubility of Nitrates of both 1-A & II-A groups increase down
the group.

v Thermal stability of Nitrates of both 1-A & II-A groups increase

down the group
Sulphates
v Solubility of Sulfates of both 1-A & II-A groups decrease down
the group because lattice energy predominate over the
hydration energy as we going down the group.

v BeSO4 & MgSO4 ( fairly soluble), CaSO4 (slightly soluble),

SrSO4 & BaSO4 ( Insoluble)
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Good Luck