Chemistry

The s-Block Elements

Question:

Explain the significance of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium in biological fluids.

Answer:

Sodium ions:

  • Na+ ions participate in the transmission of nerve signals, in regulating the flow of water across cell membranes.
  • In the transport of sugars and amino acids into cell.

Potassium ions:

  • They activate many enzymes.
  • Participate in the oxidation of glucose to produce ATP.

Magnesium ions:

  •  All enzymes that utilise ATP in phosphate transfer require magnesium as a cofactor.
  • Mg is the main pigment for the absorption of light in plants.

Calcium:

  •  Ca2+ ions are present in bones.
  •  plays important roles in neuromuscular function.
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The s-Block Elements

Q 1.

In what ways lithium shows similarities to magnesium in its chemical behaviour?

Q 2.

Name the alkaline earth metals whose salt do not impart colour to a non-luminous flame.

Q 3.

What do you mean by diagonal relationship in periodic table?

Q 4.

Which alkaline earth metals do not impart colour to the flame?

Q 5.

Why are alkali metals always univalent? Which alkali metal ion forms largest hydrated ion in aqueous solution?

Q 6.

What is the mixture of CaC2 and N2 called? How is it prepared?

Q 7.

The alkali metals are low melting. Which of the following alkali metals is expected to melt if the room temperature rises to 30 °C?
(a) Na (b) K (c) Rb (d) Cs

Q 8.

Lithium resembles magnesium in some of its properties. Mention two such properties and give reasons for this resemblance.

Q 9.

Discuss the trend of the following:
(i) Thermal stability of carbonates of Group 2 elements.
(ii) The solubility and the nature of oxides, of Group 2 elements.

Q 10.

How would you prepare sodium silicate from silica?

Q 11.

Why is BeCl2 soluble in organic solvent?

Q 12.

Why are potassium and caesium, rather than lithium used in photoelectric cells?

Q 13.

Why are lithium salts commonly hydrated and those of the other alkali metal ions usually anhydrous?

Q 14.

Which of the following compounds are readily soluble in water?
(a) BeS04                            
(b) MgS04                            
(c) BaS04                                
(d) SrS04

Q 15.

Match the elements given in Column I with the colour they impart to the flame given in Column II.

Column I Column II
(i) Cs (a) Apple green
(ii) Na (b) Violet
(iii) K (c) Brick red
(iv) Ca (d) Yellow
(v) Sr (e) Crimson red
(vi) Ba (f) Blue

 

Q 16.

Arrange the following in the increasing order of solubility in water.
 MgCl2, CaCl2, SrCl2, BaCl2

Q 17.

Why does the solution of alkali metals becomes blue in liquid ammonia? Give the chemical equation also.

Q 18.

Why is LiF almost insoluble in water whereas LiCl soluble not only in water but also in acetone?

Q 19.

In the synthesis of sodium carbonate, the recovery of ammonia is done by treating NH4C1 with Ca(OH)2. The by-product obtained in this process is
(a) CaCl2
(b) NaCl  
(c) NaOH
(d) NaHC03

Q 20.

The formula of soda ash is
(a)       NaHCO3.10H2O
(b)Na2C03.2H20
(c) Na2C03.H20
(d) Na2C03    

Q 21.

Choose the correct statements from the folio-wing.
(a) Beryllium is not readily attacked by acids because of the presence of an oxide film on the surface of the metal.
(b) Beryllium sulphate is readily soluble in water as the greater hydration enthalpy of Be2+ overcomes the lattice enthalpy factor.
(c) Beryllium exhibits coordination number more than four.
(d) Beryllium oxide is purely acidic in nature.

Q 22.

Which of the following are the correct reasons for anomalous behaviour of lithium?
(a) Exceptionally small size of its atom.
(b) Its high polarizing power.
(c) It has high degree of hydration.
(d) Exceptionally low ionization enthalpy.

Q 23.

Match the compounds given in Column I with their uses mentioned in Column II.

Column I Column II
(i) CaC03 (a) Dentistry, ornamental work
(ii) Ca(OH)2 (b) Manufacture of sodium carbonate from caustic soda
(iii) CaO (c) Manufacture-of high quality paper
(iv) CaS04 (d) Used in white washing

Q 24.

Write balanced equations for reactions between.
(a) Na2O2 and water
(b) KO2 and water
(c) Na2O and CO2

Q 25.

Which one of the following alkaline earth metal carbonates is thermally most stable?
(a) MgCO3 (b) CaCO3 (c) SrCO3 (d) BaCO3

Q 26.

(a) What makes lithium to show properties uncommon to the rest of the alkali metals?
(b) When is a cation highly polarising? Which alkali metal cation has the highest polarising power?

Q 27.

Which of the following statements is true about Ca(OH)2?
(a) It is used in the preparation of bleaching powder.
(b) It is a light blue solid.
(c) It does not possess disinfectant property.
(d) It is used in the manufacture of cement.

Q 28.

All compounds of alkali metals are easily soluble in water but lithium compounds are more soluble in organic solvents. Explain.

Q 29.

Which one of the following alkali metals give hydrated salts?
(a) Li (b) Na (c) K (d) Cs

Q 30.

Give the chemical formula of Epsom salt.

Q 31.

Why are alkali metals soft?

Q 32.

What is soda ash?

Q 33.

The reducing power of a metal depends oh various factors. Suggest the factor which makes Li, the strongest reducing agent in aqueous solution.
(a) Sublimation enthalpy (b) Ionisation enthalpy
(c) Hydration enthalpy (d) Electron-gain enthalpy

Q 34.

Why do beryllium and magnesium not impart colour to the flame in the flame test?

Q 35.

Match the elements given in Column I with the properties mentioned in Column II.

Column I Column II
(i) Li (a) Insoluble sulphate
(ii) Na (b) Strongest monoacidic base
(iii) Ca (c) Most negative E ° value among alkali metals
(iv) Ba (d) Insoluble oxalate                                                                         ‘
  (e) 6s2 outer electronic configuration

 

Q 36.

What is dead burnt plaster?

Q 37.

What is the general name for elements of group 1 ?

Q 38.

What is the effect of heat on the following compounds (Give equations for the reactions)?  (i) CaC03 (ii) CaSO4 2H2O

Q 39.

Write the chemical formula of the following compounds.
(i) Chile salt petre (ii) Marble (iii) Brine

Q 40.

A chemical A is used for the preparation of washing soda to recover ammonia. When C02 is bubbled through an aqueous solution of A, the solution tons milky. It is used in white washing due to disinfectant nature. What is the chemical formula of A?
(a) Ca(C03)2                    
(b) CaO                                      
(c) Ca(OH)2
(d) CaC03

Q 41.

Metallic elements are described by their standard electrode potential, frision enthalpy, atomic size, etc. The alkali metals are characterized by which of the following properties?
(a) High boiling point. ‘
(b) High negative standard electrode potential.
(c) High density.
(d) Large atomic size.

Q 42.

When heated in air, the alkali metals form various oxides. Mention the oxides formed by Li, Na and K.

Q 43.

Why are alkali metals not found in nature?

Q 44.

Find out the oxidation state of sodium in Na2O2.

Q 45.

Compare the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals with respect to (i) ionization enthalpy, (ii) basicity of oxides, (iii) solubility of hydroxides.

Q 46.

Starting with sodium chloride how would you proceed to prepare.
(i) Sodium metal (ii) Sodium hydroxide
(iii) Sodium peroxide (iv) Sodium carbonate?

Q 47.

Describe two important uses of each of the following: ,
(i) caustic soda (ii) sodium carbonate (iii) quick lime

Q 48.

What happens when crystals of washing soda are exposed to air?

Q 49.

What happens when sodium metal is heated in free supply of air?

Q 50.

Why do alkali metals give characteristic flame colouration?