TUTE -01 S & P – BLOCKS unit 2

• What are the properties of S block elements.

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Group IA ,II A Elements

Density
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Ionization energy
The atoms are very large. So the amount of energy needed to remove outer electron is not very large.

Flame test colours

IA Colours IIA Colours

Li Crimson Be -
Na Yellow Mg -
K purple Ca Brick red
Rb Red violet Sr Crimson red
Cs Blue Ba Apple green

• For the extraction of these metals Electrolyzing methods are use.

Ex: down's Cell extraction of NaCl

Chemical reactions & other important properties

Reaction with water

Group IA

Li

Na

Reaction with air

Li

Na

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 Reaction with Hydrogen

Reaction with ammonia

Decompositions
• Except LiOH all other hydroxides in group IA are thermally stable.
LiOH
• Decomposition of Nitrates
LiNO3

• Decomposition of Bicarbonates

Group II A

Reaction with water

Reaction with air

Mg Burns in the air easily and form it's oxides as well as nitride easily.
they all react with nitrogen to produce nitrides. In each case, you will get a mixture of the metal
oxide and the metal nitride.
The general equation for the Group is:

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 Reaction with Ammonia

Decomposition
Decomposition of Carbonates

Decomposition of Nitrates

Detailed description about S & P block

• With water

• All the elements of the first group react with water liberating hydrogen and become
hydroxides.

Example : Na reacts rapidly with water liberating hydrogen.

2Na(s) + 2H 2O(l) 2NaOH(aq) + H 2(g)

When a small piece of K is added into water it reacts while burning. As K reacts with water more rapidly
than Na, it can be concluded that the rate of reaction with water increases down the group. A reaction is not seen when
a clean piece of Mg is added into water. When the water with Mg is warmed, it is seen to react slowly.

Mg(s) + 2H 2O(l) Mg(OH) 2(aq) + H 2(g)

As the reactivity shown by Mg with water is lower compared to Na, it can be said that the metals of group II
compared to metals of group I show a lower reactivity. Be does not react with water. Ca, Sr, and Ba react with
water liberating hydrogen and forming the hydroxides.
Ca(s) + 2H 2O(l) Ca(OH) 2(aq) + H 2(g)

Be and Mg react with steam to form the oxides.

Be(s) + H O(g) 2
BeO(s) + H 2(g)
Mg(s) + H 2O(g) MgO(s) + H 2(g)

When the elements of p - block are considered it can be observed that only the halogens react with water while reactivity
decreases down the group. Halogens dissolve in water and the reactivity with water decreases down the group.
Fluorine displaces oxigen in water.
2F 2(g) + 2H 2O(l) 4HF(aq) + O 2(g)
Chlorine reacts with water slowly because the activation energy is high.

Cl 2(g) + 2H 2O(l) HCl(aq) + HOCl(aq)

0 (-I) (+I)
The halogens except F show a disproportionate reaction with water as shown above.

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 • With air
There are several reactions of group I metals with air.
2Mg(s) + O 2(g) 2MgO(s)
3Mg(s) + N 2(g) Mg 3N 2(s)

With CO 2
in the air , Na 2CO 3 can form.
Na 2O(s) + CO 2(g) +Na 2CO 3(s)
K, Rb and Cs react forming superoxides.
K(s) + O 2(g) KO 2(s)
When heated in air only Li of Group I reacts with nitrogen.

6Li(s) + N 2(g) 2Li 3N(s)

When a clean piece of Mg ribbon and a small cut piece of Na are exposed to air Na tarnishes faster than Mg.
Hence it is clear that the reactivity of Mg is lower than Na. Accordingly it can be said that relative to metals of
group I, the reactivity of group II metals with air is lower. Metals of the Group II when heated in air burn
forming oxides and nitrides.
2Mg(s) + O 2(g) 2MgO(s)

3Mg(s) + N 2(g) Mg 3N 2(s)

For Be to react it should be heated to a very high temperature.

When the elements of the p - block are considered, Al when heated in air reacts forming the oxide and releasing a
large quantity of heat.
4Al(s) + 3O 2(g) 2Al 2O 3(s)

• Al does not react with air at the room temperature because it is covered by an oxide layer.

C burns at high temperature forming CO2

C(s) +O 2(g) CO2(g)
Si forms oxides when heated to a very high temperature.
N 2 reacts with O 2 only at very high temperatures to give NO.
N 2(g) + O2(g) 2NO (g)
White phosphorus reacts with air (O 2).
In a limited supply of oxygen
In excess of oxygen
S burns in air to form SO2
S(s) + O2(g) SO 2(g)
• With acids

• The metals of s - block can function as reducing agents because they form stable cations with noble gas
configuration by giving up electrons which are loosely bonded to the nucleus. As the metals of the group I
react with acids liberating large quantity of heat, an explosion takes place. Therefore it should not be tested.
• Group II metals reacts with dilute acids to liberate H 2 rapidly.

Concentrated nitric acid is reduced by Mg.

Elements of p block react with acids showing a greater diversity.

C, S and P react with hot concentrated H2SO4

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 Solubility
Cl- Br- I- OH- CO3-2 HCO3- NO2- NO3- S-2 SO3-2 SO4-2

Be2+
solu solu solu insolu insolu solu solu solu solu solu solu
Mg2+
solu solu solu insolu insolu solu solu solu solu solu solu
Ca2+
solu solu solu Sparin insolu solu solu solu solu Sparin Sparin
gly gly gly
solu solu solu
Sr2+
solu solu solu Sparin insolu solu solu solu solu insolu insolu
gly
solu
2+
Ba solu solu solu solu insolu solu solu solu solu insolu insolu

Acidic/basic/amphoteric nature of oxides of elements of the 3rd period

•
Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P 2O5 SO2 Cl2O7
Strongly Weakly Amphoteric Very Weakly Acidic Very
basic basic weakly acidic strongly
acidic acidic

rd
Acidic/basic/amphoteric nature of hydroxide of elements of the 3 period

NaOH Mg(OH)2 Al(OH)3 Si(OH)4 P(OH)5 S(OH)6 Cl(OH)7

NaOH Mg(OH)2 Al(OH)3 H 4SiO4 H 3PO4 H 2SO4 HClO4

Strongly Weakly Amphoteric Very Weakly Strongly Very
basic basic weakly acidic acidic strongly
acidic acidic
period
Acidic/basic/amphoteric nature of hydrides of the 3rd
NaH MgH2 AlH3 SiH4 PH3 H 2S HCl
Strongly Weakly Amphoteric Very Weakly
Very
basic basic weakly acidic Acidic
strongly
acidic
acidic

Allotropic forms of P
1.White phosphorus 2.Red phosphorus 3.Black phosphorus

P 4 is stored in water because it reacts with O2 in the air. But nitrogen exists in the atmophere as a free gas
because of the strength of triple bond in it.

Oxy- acids of phosphorus

Hypophosphorus Acid Orthophosphorus Acid Phosphoric Acid

 • Allotropic forms of oxygen

Oxygen O2

• Allotropic forms of sulphur

• Alotropic forms of sulphur exist in two forms namely crystalline and amorphous.

• All crystalline forms of sulphur consist of S 8 molecules.

• There are two main types of allortopic forms of sulphur called crystalline and
amorphous.
• Crystalline sulphur

Monoclinicsulphur
Rhombic sulphur
Brown needle shaped crystals
Transparent yellow crytals 0
= 119 C
• Amorphous sulphur
Examples are plasitic sulphur and colloidal sulphur.
• Oxy - acids of sulphur

H2SO4 H2SO3 H2S2O3

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)

H O as an oxidizing agent
2 2

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 Sulphur dioxide (SO 2)
It is a colorless gas with a higher density than air and with a pungent smell. It is very soluble in water.
SO 2 dissolves in water to form sulphuric(IV) acid. It is a weak acid.
SO 2(g) + H 2O(l) H 2SO 3(aq)
SO 2 as an oxidizing agent

2Mg(s) + SO 2(g) 2MgO(s) + S(s)

3Mg(s) + SO 2(g) 2MgO(s) + MgS(s)

SO 2 as a reducing agent

SO 2 (g) + 2H 2O (l) 4H +(aq)+ SO 4 (aq)+2e

(i) with H +/KMnO4

5SO 2(g) + 2H 2O(l) + 2KMnO 4(aq) K 2SO 4(aq) + 2MnSO 4(aq) + 2H 2SO 4(aq)
+
(ii) with H /K 2Cr 2O7
K 2Cr 2O 7(aq) + H 2SO 4(aq) + 3SO 2(g) K 2SO 4(aq)+ Cr 2(SO 4) 3(aq) + H 2O(l)

(iii) with aqueous FeCl3

2FeCl 3(aq)+ SO 2(g) + 2H 2O(l) H 2SO 4(aq) + FeCl 2(aq) + 2HCl(aq)
withhalogens
(iv) SO (g) + Cl (g) + 2H O(l) H 2SO 4(aq) + 2HCl(aq)
2 2 2

with H2O2
(v) H 2O 2(aq) + SO 2 (g) H 2SO 4(aq)

As a bleaching agent
SO 2(g)+2H 2O(l) H 2SO 4(aq)+2H +(aq) + 2e
X + 2H + + 2e XH2
Coloured dye Colourless compound

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S)

It is a colurless gas slightly soluble in water. It has the smell of rotten eggs.
An aqueous solution of H 2S is somewhat acidic.

H +(aq) + HS -(aq)
H +(aq) + S 2-(aq)
Evidence for the acidic nature
(i) Reactions with sodium
Excess

2H 2S(g) + 2Na(s) 2NaHS(s) + H 2(g)

2Na(s) + H 2S(g) Na 2S(s) + H 2(g)
(ii) Reaction with sodium hydroxide
² When the base is in excess
2NaOH(aq) + H 2S(g) Na 2S(s) + 2H 2O(l)
When H2S is in excess
H 2S(g) + NaOH(aq) NaHS(s) + H 2O(l)
 • H2S react with many metal ions give sulphides,
Pb 2+(aq) + H 2S(g) PbS(s) + 2H +(aq)
Cu 2+
(aq) + H 2S(g) CuS(s) + 2H +(aq)
² It is a colurless gas slightly soluble in water. It has the smell of rotten eggs. An aqueous solution of H 2S is
somewhat acidic.

H 2S(aq) H +(aq) + HS -(aq)

-
HS (aq) H +(aq) + S 2-(aq)
Evidence for the acidic nature
(i) Reactions with sodium
Excess

2H 2S(g) + 2Na(s) 2NaHS(s) + H 2(g)

2Na(s) + H 2S(g) Na 2S(s) + H 2(g)
(ii) Reaction with sodium hydroxide
When the base is in excess
2NaOH(aq) + H 2S(g) Na 2S(s) + 2H 2O(l)
When H 2S is in excess
H2S(g) + NaOH(aq) NaHS(s) + H 2O(l)

(1) When the gases are passed through aqueous H +/K 2Cr 2O 7, SO 2 and H 2S turn the orange colour to green but
due to the formation of S with H 2S the solution will not be clear.

(2) A filter paper moistened with aqueous Pb(CH 3COO) 2 turns glistening black
with H 2S.
+
(3) When passed through aqueous H /KMnO 4 both gases turn the purple color to
colorless but with H 2S the solution will not be clear due to S formed.
(4) Petals of flowers are bleached by SO 2but not by H 2S.

Halogens
F2 - Pale yellow poisonous gas
Cl2 -Yellowish light green poisonous gas
Br2 - Reddish brown liguid
I2 - Shining black solid. Sublimes.
At -radioactive element.
Oxy acids of chlorine

HOCl HOCl2 HOCl3 HOCl4

HOCl < HClO < HClO < HClO

Oxidisingability
Hydrogen halides (HX)

HF Bond become weak.

HCl Bond length increases
HBr Stability decreases.
HI Acidity increases.

Noble gases and their compounds

He
Ne
Ar Colourless gases at room temperature.
Inert
Kr Exist as single atoms.
Do not
Xe
form Rn - Radioactive
compounds

Boiling points are very low.The boiling points increase with the increase in atomic number. Polarizability appears
in large atoms. It was found by 1962 that Xe forms compounds with two electronegative elements.

Examples : XeF 2, XeF 4, XeF 6, XeO3

Hydrolysis of the chlorides of groups 14 and 15

CCl 4does not hydrolyse.

SiCl 4(l) + 2H 2O(l) 4HCl(aq) + SiO 2(s)

SiCl 4(l) + 4H 2O(l) 4HCl(aq) + Si(OH) 4(aq)

NCl 3(g) + 3H 2O(l) ®NH 3(aq) + 3HOCl(aq)
PCl 3(g) + 3H 2O(l) ®H 3PO 3(aq) + 3HCl(aq)
PCl 5(g) + H 2O(l) ®POCl 3(aq) + 2HCl(aq)
PCl 5(g) + 4H 2O(l) ®H 3PO 4(aq) + 5HCl(aq)
AsCl 3(aq) + 3H 2O(l) ®H 3AsO 3(aq) + 3HCl(aq)
SbCl 3(aq) + H 2O(l) ® SbO +(aq) + 3Cl -(aq) + 2H +(aq)
BiCl 3(aq) + H 2O(l) ® BiO +(aq) + 3Cl -(aq) + 2H +(aq)

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Acidity of hydrogen halides in aqueous solution
Under dry conditions hydrogen halides are not acidic. However, their aqueous solutions are acidic.
HCl(g) + H 2O(l) H 3O +(aq) + Cl -(aq)

• Hydrofluoric acid is a weak acid and all the other hydrogen halides are strong acids. The reason for this is the
specially strong H - F bond.

• Disproportionation in chlorine
Cl 2 (g) + dil. 2NaOH(aq) NaCl(aq) + NaOCl(aq) + H 2O(l)

(0) (-I) (+I)

Cl 2 (g) + conc. 6NaOH(aq) 5NaCl(aq) + NaClO 3(aq) + 3H 2O(l)
(0) (-I) (v)

Identification tests

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