9/15/25, 3:54 PM Diagonal relationship in periodic table - Chemistry Notes

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relationship in periodic table

Diagonal relationship in periodic table

Bimal Raut([Link] May 25, 2022
Periodic table ([Link]

Table of Contents
1. Lithium and Magnesium diagonal relationship
2. Diagonal relationship between Beryllium and Aluminium
3. Diagonal relationship between Boron and Silicon
4. Diagonal relationship Video
5. FAQs/MCQs
5.1. diagonal relationship definition
5.2. diagonal relationship examples
5.3. diagonal relationship is shown by
5.4. cause of diagonal relationship
6. References

Diagonal relationship is a resemblance of the properties of the elements of 2nd period with diagonally
opposite members lying in the 3rd period. The two diagonal elements showing similarities in properties
are called diagonal pairs. It is the most important feature of the earlier element of the second period
(Li, Be, & B) that they resemble more with the elements lying on the right-hand side in the third-period
element (i.e. diagonally opposite element) than with another member of their own group. Thus Li
resembles more in its properties with Mg than other alkali metals. Similarly, Be shows similarity with
Al, and B resemble Si.

Period Group 1 (IA) Group 2 (IIA) Group 13 (IIIA) Group 14 (IVA)

2nd Li Be B C

3rd Na Mg Al Si

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9/15/25, 3:54 PM Diagonal relationship in periodic table - Chemistry Notes
Table: Pairs of diagonal elements

The diagonal relationship arises due to resemblance in properties such as atomic size, ionization
energy ([Link]
electronegativity ([Link] and polarizing power of their
corresponding cations.

Lithium and Magnesium diagonal relationship

The diagonal relationship between Li and Mg is due to:

Electronegativity of both the elements are almost identical (Li = 1.0, Mg = 1.2).
Atomic (Li = 1.34 Å, Mg = 1.30 Å) and ionic radii (Li = 0.68 Å, Mg = 0.65 Å) are nearly identical in
both elements.
The following points illustrate the diagonal relationship between lithium and magnesium:

Li and Mg are both harder metals with greater melting points than other metals in their groups.
When Li and Mg are burnt in the air, they produce the typical oxides Li2O and MgO, which are
just sparingly soluble in water.
On heating, nitrates, carbonates, and hydroxide compounds of both metals decompose in the
same way.

Both metals react slowly with H2O to form metallic hydroxides, which generate H2 gas.

Both metal formates form metallic carbonates and formaldehyde when heated.

Diagonal relationship between Beryllium and

Aluminium
The diagonal relationship between Be and Al is due to:

The electronegativity of both elements is almost identical (Be = 1.5, Al = 1.5).

The covalent radii of both elements are identical.
Both metals possess a weak electropositive character.
The ratio between cationic charge and cationic size i.e. Be2+ (0.033) and Al3+ (0.044) ions are
almost the same.
The Be and Al diagonal relationship is illustrated by the following points:

Both metals are typically extracted by electrolytic reduction of their oxides.

Both metals i.e. Be and Al is present as beryl, 3BeO.Al2O3.6SiO2 in nature.
Be+2 and Al+3 ions have a great tendency for forming complexes with ligands. Some of the
examples are: [Be(H2O)4]++, [Al(H2O)6]+3, [AlF6]-3 and so on.
In combination with halogens, both the metals behave as Lewis acid
([Link]
lewis-acid-and-bases/). As illustrated below, both BeCl2 and AlCl3 have bridge/dimeric structures.

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9/15/25, 3:54 PM Diagonal relationship in periodic table - Chemistry Notes

Both the metals combine with N2 and form their nitrides (Be3N2 and AlN). These nitrides are
decomposed by H2O to form metallic hydroxides and ammonia gas is evolved out.

Diagonal relationship between Boron and Silicon

The diagonal relationship between B and Si is due to:

The electronegativity of both elements is almost identical (B = 2.0, Si = 1.8).

Both elements have similar cationic charge and cationic size ratio values.
The B and Si diagonal relationship are illustrated by the following points:

Since both elements are non-metals, they are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
Most of the compounds of these elements are covalent in nature.
Both the elements exist in two allotropic forms; amorphous and crystalline. Crystalline forms of
both elements are hard.
Both the elements can be obtained by reducing their oxides with Mg metal.

The oxides of both elements are stable. Because they form boric acid and metasilicic acid in the
water, both oxides are weakly acidic in nature.

Diagonal relationship Video

[Link]

FAQs/MCQs
diagonal relationship definition
Diagonal relationship is a resemblance of the properties of the elements of 2nd period with diagonally
opposite members lying in the 3rd period.

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9/15/25, 3:54 PM Diagonal relationship in periodic table - Chemistry Notes

diagonal relationship examples

Lithium (Li) and magnesium (Mg), beryllium (Be) and aluminum (Al), boron (B), and silicon (Si); these
three pairs show a diagonal relationship.

diagonal relationship is shown by

The diagonal relationship is shown by 2nd (Li, Be, & B) and 3rd (Mg, Al, & Si)-period elements of the
periodic table as they possess similar properties.

cause of diagonal relationship

The resemblance in properties such as atomic size, ionization energy
([Link] electronegativity
([Link] and polarizing power of their corresponding
cations are the cause of diagonal relationships.

References
Rayner-Canham, Geoffrey (22 December 2013). Descriptive inorganic chemistry. Overton, Tina
(Sixth ed.). New York
Shriver, Duward (2006). Inorganic Chemistry (4th ed.).

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Bimal Raut
([Link]
Bimal Raut is currently doing his Master's Degree
in Chemistry at Central Department of Chemistry,
Tribhuvan University. He's been actively involved in
([Link] several research projects related to natural
products, nanochemistry, and computational
chemistry. He is currently working on drug design,
molecular docking, antibody generation, and assay
development.

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