Why do beryllium and magnesium not impart colour to the flame in the flame test?
All alkaline earth metals (except Be and Mg) impart a characteristic colour to the Bunsen flame. The different colours arise due to different energies . required for electronic excitation and de-excitation.
Be and Mg atoms, due to their small size, bind their electrons more strongly (because of .higher effective nuclear charge). Hence, they require high excitation energy and are not excited by the energy of the flame with the result that no flame colour is shown by them.
Why are alkali metals always univalent? Which alkali metal ion forms largest hydrated ion in aqueous solution?
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
Lithium resembles magnesium in some of its properties. Mention two such properties and give reasons for this resemblance.
(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?
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.
Arrange the following in the increasing order of solubility in water.
MgCl2, CaCl2, SrCl2, BaCl2
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 |
Which one of the following alkali metals give hydrated salts?
(a) Li (b) Na (c) K (d) Cs
Write the chemical formula of the following compounds.
(i) Chile salt petre (ii) Marble (iii) Brine
Why is LiF almost insoluble in water whereas LiCl soluble not only in water but also in acetone?
All compounds of alkali metals are easily soluble in water but lithium compounds are more soluble in organic solvents. Explain.
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 |
Which one of the following alkaline earth metal carbonates is thermally most stable?
(a) MgCO3 (b) CaCO3 (c) SrCO3 (d) BaCO3
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
Amphoteric hydroxides react with both alkalies and acids. ‘Which of the following group 2 metal hydroxides is soluble in sodium hydroxide?
(a) Be(OH)2
(b) Mg(OH)2
(c) Ca(OH)2
(d) Ba(OH)2
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.
Identify the correct’ formula of halides of alkaline earth metals from the following.
(a) BaCl2.2H20
(b) BaCl2 .4H20
(c) CaCl2 . 6H20
(d) SrCl2.4H20
Name the alkaline earth metals whose salt do not impart colour to a non-luminous flame.
Why does the solution of alkali metals becomes blue in liquid ammonia? Give the chemical equation also.
Which out of the following can be used to store an alkali metal?
H2O, C2H5OH and Benzene
Some of the Group 2 metal halides are covalent and soluble in organic solvents. Among the following metal halides, the one which is soluble in ethanol is
(a) BeCl2
(b) MgCl2
(c) CaCl2
(d) SrCl2
The order of decreasing ionization enthalpy in alkali metals is
(a) Na > Li > K > Rb (b) Rb < Na < K < Li
(c) Li > Na > K > Rb (d) K < Li < Na < Rb
The solubility of metal halides depends on their nature, lattice enthalpy and hydration enthalpy of the individual ions. Amongst fluorides of alkali metals, the lowest solubility of LiF in water is due to
(a) ionic nature of lithium fluoride. . .
(b) high lattice enthalpy. ‘
(c) high hydration enthalpy for lithium ion.
(d) low ionization enthalpy of lithium atom.
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.
When heated in air, the alkali metals form various oxides. Mention the oxides formed by Li, Na and K.
The hydroxides and carbonates of sodium and potassium are easily soluble in water while the corresponding salts of magnesium and calcium are sparingly soluble in water. Explain.
Comment on each of the following observations:
(a) The mobilities of the alkali metal ions in aqueous solution are Li+ < Na+
(b) Lithium is the only alkali metal to form a nitride directly.
(c) Ee for M2+ (aq) + 2e– —> M(s) (where M = Ca, Sr, or Ba) is nearly constant.
When sodium is dissolved in liquid ammonia, a solution of deep blue colour is obtained. The colour of the solution is due to
(a) ammoniated electron
(b) sodium ion
(c) sodium amide
(d) ammoniated sodium ion
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
Dehydration of hydrates of halides of.calcium, barium and strontium, i.e., CaCl2.6H20, BaCl2.2H20, SrCl2.2H20, can be achieved by heating. These become wet oh keeping in air. Which of the following statements is correct about these halides?
(a) Act as dehydrating agents.
(b) Can absorb moisture from air.
(c) Tendency to form hydrate decreases from calcium to barium.
(d) All of the above.
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.
In the Solvay process, can we obtain sodium carbonate directly by treating the solution containing (NH4)2C03 with sodium chloride? Explain.