S-BLOCK ELEMENTS

(1) PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

(i) 𝐿𝑖 3 (𝐻𝑒, 2𝑠1 ), 𝑁𝑎11 (𝑁𝑒, 3𝑠1 ), 𝐾19 (𝐴𝑟, 4𝑠1 ), 𝑅𝑏37 (𝐾𝑟, 5𝑠1 ), 𝐶𝑠 55 (𝑋𝑒, 6𝑠1 ), 𝐹𝑟 87 (𝑅𝑛, 7𝑠1 )
And 𝐵𝑒 4 (𝐻𝑒, 2𝑠 2 ), 𝑀𝑔12 (𝑁𝑒, 3𝑠 2 ), 𝐶𝑎20 (𝐴𝑟, 4𝑠 2 ), 𝑆𝑟 38 (𝐾𝑟, 5𝑠 2 ), 𝐵𝑎56 (𝑋𝑒, 6𝑠 2 ), 𝑅𝑎88 (𝑅𝑛, 7𝑠 2 )
Be used to make X ray tube windows
(ii) Size: Increases down the group. (G1>G2)
But 𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑐 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑖 𝑜𝑓 𝐿𝑖 + > 𝑀𝑔+2
(iii) IE: Decreases down the group. (𝐼𝐸1 (𝐺2 > 𝐺1) 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼𝐸2 (𝐺1 > 𝐺2)
Only 𝐶𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝐼𝐸 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤 400 𝑘𝐽 𝑖𝑛 𝐺1
1 1 1
(iv) Hydration enthalpy: Decreases down the group. 𝐻𝐸 ∝ + ∝
𝑟+ 𝑟− 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒
G2 > G1, and G2 salts are usually hexahydrates
(v) Hardness (G2 > G1) due to FCC HCP structure stronger than BCC.
Hardness: Decreases down the group.
(vi) MP, BP: Very low. (G2 > G1)
G1: MP, BP = 𝐿𝑖 > 𝑁𝑎 > 𝐾 > 𝑅𝑏 > 𝐶𝑠
G2: MP = 𝐵𝑒 > 𝐶𝑎 > 𝑆𝑟 > 𝐵𝑎 > 𝑀𝑔
G2: BP = 𝐵𝑒 > 𝐵𝑎 > 𝐶𝑎 > 𝑆𝑟 > 𝑀𝑔
(vii) Flame Test: Due to low IE, even small burner will excite electron easily:
Li: Crimson Red, Na: Golden Yellow, K: Violet, Rb: Red Violet, Cs: Blue
Ca: Brick Red, Sr: Crimson Red, Ba: Apple Green
Be and Mg don’t show flame test due to high IE.
(viii) Wavelengths of Flames: 𝑅𝑏 > 𝐾 > 𝐿𝑖 > 𝑁𝑎 > 𝐶𝑠
(ix) Photoelectric effect: Shown by K, Rb, Cs. Cs used in photochemical cells.
(x) Reducing nature(G1 > G2): 𝐿𝑖 < 𝑁𝑎 < 𝐾 < 𝑅𝑏 < 𝐶𝑠
But 𝐿𝑖 > 𝑅𝑏 > 𝐶𝑠 > 𝐾 > 𝑁𝑎 in aqueous solution
And 𝐵𝑎 > 𝑆𝑟 > 𝐶𝑎 > 𝑀𝑔 > 𝐵𝑒
(xi) Density (G2 > G1) : 𝐶𝑠 > 𝑅𝑏 > 𝑁𝑎 > 𝐾 > 𝐿𝑖 (K becomes lesser due to empty d orbital)
and 𝐵𝑎 > 𝑆𝑟 > 𝐵𝑒 > 𝑀𝑔 > 𝐶𝑎
(xii) Conductivity: 𝐶𝑠 + > 𝑅𝑏 + > 𝐾 + > 𝑁𝑎+ . 𝐶𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 ℎ𝑦𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑝𝑦
Same in 𝐵𝑎+2 > 𝑆𝑟 +2 > 𝐶𝑎+2 > 𝑀𝑔+2 > 𝐵𝑒 +2
(2) CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:
(i) Small cations bond well with small anions and vice versa.
(ii) Reaction with oxygen: In limited supply of oxygen all of the metals form monoxide
In excess supply of oxygen: 𝐿𝑖 → 𝐿𝑖2 𝑂 (𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒) + 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒
And 𝑁𝑎 → 𝑁𝑎2 𝑂2 (𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒
and 𝑅𝑏, 𝐶𝑠, 𝐾 → 𝑀𝑂2 (𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒)(𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑠𝑜 𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑)
G2 (Ca, Sr, Ba) form peroxides (MO2)
(iii) Reaction with dry air: All form oxide but 𝐿𝑖 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑒
In G2 all form both nitrides and oxides. But 𝐵𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑔 do not react easily due to oxide layer
In moist air, they form carbonate. (Moist air = 𝑂2 + 𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐻2 𝑂)
(iv) Reaction with water: Reactivity increases down the group. (Be does not react)
Ca, Sr, Ba react with any water. Mg reacts only with hot water.
Solubility, Stability and basicity of these hydroxides increases down the group
𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝑀𝑂𝐻
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝑀𝑂𝐻 + 𝐻2 𝑂2
𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝑀𝑂𝐻 + 𝐻2 𝑂2 + 𝑂2
(v) Reaction with Hydrogen: Except Li, Mg, Be all hydrides are ionic.
Beryllium hydride preparation: 𝐵𝑒𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐿𝑖𝐴𝑙𝐻4 → 𝐵𝑒𝐻2 + 𝐿𝑖𝐶𝑙 + 𝐴𝑙𝐶𝑙3
(vi) Halide reaction: Reactivity increases down the group (𝐿𝑖𝐹 𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒 due to high
lattice energy, small cation + small anion = good packing). If excess halogen, poly-halides are
formed (𝐶𝑠𝐵𝑟3 , 𝐶𝑠𝐼3 𝑒𝑡𝑐 … 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐾, 𝑅𝑏 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑠)
Preparation of 𝐵𝑒𝑋2
(𝑁𝐻4 )2 𝐵𝑒𝐹4 → 2𝑁𝐻4 𝐹 + 𝐵𝑒𝐹2
𝐵𝑒𝑂 + 𝐶 + 𝐶𝑙2 → 𝐵𝑒𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐶𝑂
In solid state, 𝐵𝑒𝐶𝑙2 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑚𝑒𝑟
In vapour state, 𝐵𝑒𝐶𝑙2 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑎 𝑐ℎ𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑜 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑟
which becomes linear at higher temperatures.

On heating, Be and Mg suffer hydrolysis so 𝑀𝐶𝑙2 can’t be recovered.

(vii) Carbonates/Sulphates: 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝 due to higher compatibility.
Solubility decreases down the group, as they Be will have less lattice E, more hydration energy.
on heating, 𝐿𝑖2 𝐶𝑂3 → 𝐿𝑖2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑂2 .
(viii) Dissolution in Liquid ammonia: (All metals except Be and Mg)
−
𝑀 + 𝑙𝑖𝑞 𝑁𝐻3 → [𝑀(𝑁𝐻3 )𝑥 ]+ + (𝑒(𝑁𝐻3 )𝑦 )
Ammoniated electron makes the solution paramagnetic, blue, conducting and reducing.
if heated: 𝑀 + 𝑁𝐻3 → 𝑀+ + 𝐻2
if concentrated: bronze and diamagnetic solution formed
if stood for some time: 𝑀 + 𝑁𝐻3 → 𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑑𝑒 + 𝐻2 (in case of Li, imide formed)
(3) Sodium (Down’s Process)
At iron cathode: 𝑁𝑎+ + 𝑒 → 𝑁𝑎(𝑠) and at graphite anode: 2𝐶𝑙 − → 𝐶𝑙2 + 2𝑒 −
Here 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑙2 + 𝑁𝑎𝐹 𝑖𝑠 used to lower MP of NaCl
(4) Baking Soda and Washing Soda (Soda Ammonia Solvay Process)
(i) Raw materials: 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙, 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑁𝐻3
𝑁𝐻3 + 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑂2 → (𝑁𝐻4 )2 𝐶𝑂3
(𝑁𝐻4 )2 𝐶𝑂3 + 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑂2 → 𝑁𝐻4 𝐻𝐶𝑂3
𝑁𝐻4 𝐻𝐶𝑂3 + 𝑁𝑎𝐶𝑙 → 𝑁𝑎𝐻𝐶𝑂3 + 𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙
Here 𝑁𝑎𝐻𝐶𝑂3 is less soluble, so easily separated (KHC𝑂3 not used)
𝑁𝑎𝐻𝐶𝑂3 → 𝑁𝑎2 𝐶𝑂3 + 𝐶𝑂2 + 𝐻2 𝑂
here 𝑁𝐻3 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑: 𝑁𝐻4 𝐶𝑙 + 𝐶𝑎 (𝑂𝐻 )2 → 𝑁𝐻3 + 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑙2
When 𝑁𝑎2 𝐶𝑂3 . 10𝐻2 𝑂 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 → 𝑁𝑎2 𝐶𝑂3 . 1𝐻2 𝑂 + 9𝐻2 𝑂
And If heated more, soda ash is formed.
(5) Caustic Soda (Castner-Kellner cell)
(i) Hg Cathode: 𝑁𝑎+ + 𝑒 → 𝑁𝑎 − 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑎𝑚
1
(ii) C anode: 𝐶𝑙 − → 𝐶𝑙2 + 𝑒
2
(iii) 𝑁𝑎 − 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑎𝑚 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 + 2𝐻𝑔 + 𝐻2
(iv) Reactions of NaOH:
with acids: 𝐻3 𝐵𝑂3 + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 → 𝑁𝑎𝐵𝑂2 . 2𝐻2 𝑂
HN𝑂3 + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 → 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂3
with oxides: 𝐵2 𝑂3 + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 → 𝑁𝑎𝐵𝑂2 . 2𝐻2 𝑂
and with amphoteric oxides: 𝑍𝑛𝑂 + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝑁𝑎2 𝑍𝑛𝑂2
If 𝑃𝑏𝑂 + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝑁𝑎2 𝑃𝑏𝑂2 (𝑃𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑒)
Or 𝑃𝑏𝑂2 + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝑁𝑎2 𝑃𝑏𝑂3 (𝑃𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑒)
(6) Metal Nitrate → 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑑𝑒 + 𝑁𝑂2 + 𝑂2 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐿𝑖 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑎
Metal nitrate → 𝑀𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑂2 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟
(7) KOH is prepared by 𝐾𝐶𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐾2 𝐶𝑂3 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑝 𝑏𝑦 𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑐 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠
(8) Magnesium (from magnesite/dolomite)
(i) 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑂3 → 𝑀𝑔𝑂 + 𝐶𝑂2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑔𝑂 𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑜𝑛
and 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 . 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑂3 → 𝑀𝑔𝑂. 𝐶𝑎𝑂 + 2𝐶𝑂2
(9) 𝑴𝒈𝑪𝒍𝟐 (from carnallite)
(i) 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑂3 + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 → 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐶𝑂2
(ii) On heating 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑙2 . 6𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝑀𝑔𝑂 + 𝐻𝐶𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂
(10) 𝑴𝒈𝑺𝑶𝟒 . 𝑯𝟐 𝑶(𝑲𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆) 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒈𝑺𝑶𝟒 . 𝟕𝑯𝟐 𝑶(𝒆𝒑𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒆)
(i) 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑂3 + 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 → 𝑀𝑔𝑆𝑂4 + 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑂2
(ii) Used in medicine as laxative and purgative.
𝑀𝑔𝑆𝑂4 → 𝑀𝑔𝑂 + 𝑆𝑂2 + 𝑂2
(11) Calcium (from electrolysis of fused calcium chloride)
(i) Iron cathode: 𝐶𝑎+2 + 2𝑒 → 𝐶𝑎
(ii) Graphite anode: 2𝐶𝑙 − → 𝐶𝑙2 + 2𝑒
(iii) By Goldschmidt process: 𝐶𝑎𝑂 + 𝐴𝑙 → 𝐴𝑙2 𝑂3 + 𝐶𝑎
(12) CaO (Quick Lime)
(i) 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 → 𝐶𝑎𝑂 + 𝐶𝑂2
(ii) 𝐶𝑎𝑂 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝐶𝑎 (𝑂𝐻 )2 (𝑠𝑢𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑒)
(iii) 𝐶𝑎 (𝑂𝐻 )2 + 𝐶𝑂2 → 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 , if excess carbon dioxide then bicarbonate forms
1
(iv) 𝐶𝑎𝑆𝑂4 . 2𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝐶𝑎𝑆𝑂4 . 𝐻2 𝑂
2
forms a fertilizer (𝑁𝐻4 )2 𝑆𝑂4
(v) 𝐶𝑎 (𝑂𝐻 )2 + 𝐶𝑙2 → 𝐶𝑎(𝑂𝐶𝑙 )2 (𝐵𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑑𝑒𝑟) + 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑙2
(13) ANOMALOUS BEHAVIOUR OF BERYLLIUM:
(i) Small, high IE so covalent and hydrated easily.
(ii) Makes no more than 4 bonds but other elements make 6.
(iii) Forms amphoteric oxides.
(14) DIAGONAL RELATIONSHIP OF BE AND AL:
(i) e/r ratio is same.
(ii) Not readily attacked by acids due to oxide film
(iii) Chlorides have bridged vapour structures. Both are strong acids.
(iv) Make complexes: 𝐵𝑒𝐹4−2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑙𝐹6−3
(15) DIAGONAL RELATIONSHIP OF MG AND LI:
(i) Both react slower with water and less soluble.
(ii) Form nitrides, monoxides and carbonates are unstable.
(iii) Both do not form solid bicarbonates.
(iv) Form hydrates: 𝐿𝑖𝐶𝑙. 2𝐻2 𝑂 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑙2 . 8𝐻2 𝑂