S-Block Elements Class 11 Notes Chemistry Chapter 10
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• General Electronic Configuration of s-Block Elements
For alkali metals [noble gas] ns1
For alkaline earth metals [noble gas] ns2
• Group 1 Elements: Alkali metals
Electronic Configuration, ns1, where n represents the valence shell.
These elements are called alkali metals because they readily dissolve in water to form soluble hydroxides, which are strongly alkaline in nature.
• Atomic and Ionic Radii
Atomic and ionic radii of alkali metals increase on moving down the group i.e., they increase in size going from Li to Cs. Alkali metals form monovalent cations by losing one valence electron. Thus cationic radius is less as compared to the parent atom.
• Ionization Enthalpy
The ionization enthalpies of the alkali metals are generally low and decrease down the group from Li to Cs.
Reason: Since alkali metals possess large atomic sizes as a result of which the valence s-electron (ns1) can be easly removed. These values decrease down the group because of decrease in the magnitude of the force of attraction with the nucleus on account of increased atomic radii and screening effect.
• Hydration Enthalpy
Smaller the size of the ion, more is its tendency to get hydrated hence more is the hydration enthalpy.
Hydration enthalpies of alkali metal ions decrease with increase in ionic sizes.
Li+ > Na+ > K+ > Rb+ > Cs+
• Physical Properties
(i) All the alkali metals are silvery white, soft and light metals.
(ii) They have generally low density which increases down the group.
(iii) They impart colour to an oxidising flame. This is because the heat from the flame excites the outermost orbital electron to a higher energy level. When the excited electron comes back to the ground state, there is emission of radiation in the visible region.
• Chemical Properties of Alkali Metals
(i) Reaction with air:
When exposed to air surface of the alkali metals get tarnished due the formation of oxides and hydroxides.
Alkali metals combine with oxygen upon heating to form different oxides depending upon their nature.
(ii) Reaction with water:
Alkali metals react with water to form hydroxide and dihydrogen
(iii) Reaction with hydrogen:
The alkali metals combine with hydrogen at about 673 K (lithium at 1073 K) to form hydrides.
2M + H2 ————-> 2M+
The ionic character of hydrides increases from Li to Cs.
(iv) Reaction with halogens:
Alkali metals combine with halogens directly to form metal halides.
2M + X2————–> 2MX
They have high melting and boiling points.
Order of reactivity of M:
(v) Reducing nature:
The alkali metals are strong reducing agents. In aqueous solution it has been observed that the reducing character of alkali metals follows the sequence Na < K < Rb < Cs < Li, Li is the strongest while sodium is least powerful reducing agent. This can be explained in terms of electrode potentials (E°). Since the electrode potential of Li is the lowest. Thus Li is the strongest reducing agent.
(vi) Solubility in liquid ammonia:
The alkali metals dissolve in liquid ammonia to give deep blue solution. The solution is conducting in nature.
M+ (x + y) NH3 ———-> [M (NH3) X]+ + [e (NH3) y]–
When light falls on the ammoniated electrons, they absorb energy corresponding to red colour and the light which emits from it has blue colour. In concentrated solution colour changes from blue to bronze. The blue solutions are paramagnetic while the concentrated solutions are diamagnetic.
• Uses of Alkali Metals
Uses of Lithium
(i) Lithium is used as deoxidiser in the purification of copper and nickel.
(ii) Lithium is used to make both primary and secondary batteries.
(iii) Lithium hydride is used as source of hydrogen for meteorological purposes.
(iv) Lithium aluminium hydride (LiAlH4) is a good reducing agent.
(v) Lithium carbonate is used in making glass.
Uses of Sodium
(i) Used as sodium amalgum in laboratory (synthesis of organic compounds).
(ii) Sodium is used in sodium vapour lamp.
(iii) In molten state, it is used in nuclear reactors.
(iv) An alloy of sodium-potassium is used in high temperature thermometres.
Uses of Potassium
(i) Salts of potassium are used in fertilizers.
(ii) Used as reducing agent.
Uses of Cesium
(i) In rocket propellent
(ii) In photographic cells.
• Group 2 Elements: Alkaline Earth Metals
Alkaline Earth Metals: They were named alkaline earth metals since they were alkaline in nature like alkali metals oxides and they were found in the earth’s crust.
Example, Be (Beryllium), Ca, Mg, Sr etc.
• Electronic Configuration
Their general electronic configuration is represented as [noble gas] ns2.
• Atomic and Ionic Radii
Atomic and ionic radii of alkaline earth metals one comparatively smaller than alkali metals. Within the group atomic and ionic radii increases with the increase in atomic number. Reason: Because these elements have only two valence electrons and the magnitude of the force of attraction with the nucleus is quite small.
• Ionization Enthalpies
These metals also have low ionization enthalpies due to fairly large size of atoms. As the atomic sizes increase down the group ionization enthalpies are expected to decrease in the same manner.
Due to their small size in comparison to alkali metals first ionization enthalpies of alkaline earth metals is higher than that of alkali metals.
• Hydration Enthalpies
The hydration enthalpies of alkaline earth metal ions are larger than those of the alkali metals. Thus alkaline earth metals have more tendency to become hydrate. The hydration enthalpies decreases down the group since the cationic size increases.
Be2+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ > Sr2+ > Ba2+
Metallic character: They have strong metallic bonds as compared to the alkali metals in the same period. This is due to the smaller kernel size of alkaline earth metal and two valence electrons present in the outermost shell.
• Physical Properties
(i) They are harder than alkali metals.
(ii) M.P and B.P are higher than the corresponding alkali metals due to their small size.
(iii) The electropositive character increases down the group.
(iv) Except Be and Mg, all these metals impart characteristic colour to the flame.
(v) The alkaline earth metals possess high thermal and electrical conductivity.
• Chemical Properties
1. Reaction with oxygen. Beryllium and magnesium are kinetically inert to oxygen because of the formation of a thin film of oxide on their surface.
Reactivity towards oxygen increases as going down the group.
2. Reaction with water. Since these metals are less electropositive than alkali metals, they are less reactive towards water.
Magnesium reacts with boiling water or steam. Rest of the members reacts even with cold water.
Mg + 2H20 ——-> Mg(OH)2 + H2
Ca + 2H20 ————> Ca(OH)2 + H2
3. Reaction with halogens. They combine with the halogens at appropriate temperature to form corresponding halides MX2.
M + X2 ——–> MX2 (X = F, Cl, Br, I)
Thermal decomposition of (NH4)2 BeF4is used for the preparation of BeF2.
4. Reaction with hydrogen. These metals except Be combine with hydrogen directly upon heating to form metal hydrides.
• General Characteristics of Compounds of Alkaline Earth Metals
Oxides and Hydroxides
(i) The alkaline earth metals bum in oxygen to form MO (monoxide).
(ii) These oxides are very stable to heat.
(iii) BeO is amphoteric in nature while oxides of other elements are ionic.
(iv) Exept BeO, they are basic in nature and react with water to form sparingly soluble hydroxides.
MO + H2O ———-> M(OH)2
(v) Hydroxides of alkaline earth metals are less stable and less basic than alkali metal hydroxides.
(vi) Beryllium hydroxide is amphoteric in nature.
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