Group Trends
Atomic Radii OR Atomic Size:
It
may be defined as,
“The
distance between the outer electrons and nucleus is called Atomic radii or
Atomic size.”
Atomic size is measured by diffraction of
x-rays through substance in solid state. It is measured in Ao
(Angstrom).
1Ao
= 10-10 m = 10-8 cm
Factors Affecting Atomic
Size:
There
are three factors which may affect the atomic size.
1) Number of Shell:
Increase
in number of shell will increase distance between outer electrons and nucleus
(Atomic size). Therefore down in a group atomic size increases due to increase
in number of shell in an atom. Greater increase in atomic size occurs due to
increase in number of shell.
2) Nuclear Charge:
Due
to increase in nuclear charge the attraction between outer electrons and
nucleus is increased, which will cause a decrease in atomic size. Therefore
atomic size decreases across in a period with increasing nuclear charge. Small
variation in atomic size of elements occurs due to variation in their nuclear
charge.
3) Screening Effect of Shielding Effect:
Electrons
in inner shells will tend to shield electrons in outer most shell from nucleus
therefore effective nuclear charge is less than actual nuclear charge; this
effect of inner electrons is called Screening or Shielding effect.
Shielding
effect of inner electrons will weaken the force of attraction between outer
electrons and nucleus therefore increases due to increase in inner electrons
therefore atomic size increases down in a group.
Ionization Potential
Definition:
It may be defined
as,
"The
minimum amount of energy required to remove one mole of electrons from one mole
of gaseous atoms of the element to from one mole of gaseous cations is called
Ionization Potential."
Ionization
potential is the measure of strength of electrostatic attractions between
nucleus and outer electrons. Ionization potential is measured in KJ/mole.
When first
electron is removed from the atom the energy required is called 1st
I.P.
When electron is
removed form singly charged cation then the amount of energy is called 2nd
I.P.
Factors Affecting Ionization Potential:
There are three
factors on which ionization potential of elements.
1) Atomic Size:
Increase in atomic size
of elements will cause increase in distance between the nucleus and outer
electrons. This wills weak the force of attraction and therefore removal of
outer electrons becomes easier and ionization potential decreases. Down in a
group ionization potential decreases with increasing atomic size. Hence element
at the top of each group has highest value of I.P. and element at the bottom
has least value.
2) Nuclear Charge:
Increase in nuclear
charge will cause stronger attraction between nucleus and outer electrons
therefore ionization potential increases with increasing nuclear charge across
in a period. Hence element at the left most in periodic table has least value
of I.P. and element at the right most in periodic table has highest value of
I.P.
3) Screening Effect OR Shield Effect:
Electrons in inner
shells will tend to shield electrons in outer most shell from nucleus therefore
effective nuclear charge is less than actual nuclear charge; this effect of
inner electrons is called Screening or Shielding Effect.
Shielding effect of inner
electrons will weaken the force of attraction between outer electrons and
nucleus therefore increase in shielding effect decreases ionization potential.
Down in a group shielding effect increases due to increase in inner electrons
therefore ionization potential decreases down in a group.
Electro-Negativity
Definition:
"The ability of an
atom to attract shared pair of electrons to itself is called
Electro-negativity."
Electro-negativity
depends upon the electrostatic attraction between outer electrons and nucleus.
Factors Affecting
Electro-Negativity:
Electro-Negativity
depends upon following factors.
1. Atomic Size:
Increase in atomic size
of elements will cause increase in distance between the nucleus and outer
electrons. This wills weak the force of attraction and as result electro
negativity decreases. Down in a group electro negativity decreases with
increasing atomic size. Hence element on the top of each group has highest and
element at the bottom has lowest electro negativity.
2. Nuclear Charge:
Increase in nuclear
charge will cause stronger attraction between nucleus and outer electrons
therefore electro negativity increases with increasing nuclear charge across in
a period. Hence element at left most of the periodic table has least value of
electro negativity in that period and element at the right most has highest
value.
Heat Of Hydration
Definition:
Hydration
may be define as,
"The
process in which water molecules surround other substance is called
Hydration."
"The
amount of heat released during hydration is called Heat of Hydration."
The
heat of hydration depends upon the charge density of the ions present. More the
charge density more will be the attraction of ions with water molecules,
therefore ions having more charge density has more heat of hydration.
Charge
density of the ion depends upon the size of charge and volume of ions, since
alkaline earth metal ions have more charge and less volume than alkali metal
ions therefore alkaline earth metal ions more easily hydrated than alkali
metal.
Electrode Potential
Definition:
It
may be defined as,
"The
potential difference between metal and its salt solution is called Electrode
potential."
Electrode
potential is the measure of the conversion of metal and its ion. Ease of
conversion causes high electrode potential.
Alkali
metals and alkaline earth metals are strong reducing agent. The values of
electrode potentials are used to predict the ease of conversion of metal into
its ion. Electrode potentials of these metals are more negative because these
metals undergo oxidation very easily.
Electrode
potential of Lithium couple (Li+/Li) has exceptionally high value of
electrode potential because Lithium has very value of heat of hydration which
promotes the oxidation of Lithium into its ion.
The
electrode potential decreases down the group due to increase in atomic size.
The increase in atomic size will decrease ionization potential, due to which
metal are easily into their ions.
Density, Melting Point &
Boiling Point:
Density,
melting point and boiling point of a substance depends upon inter molecular
attractions between their particles. Stronger the attractions more will be the
density, melting point and boiling point.
Density
of elements in a group increases down in a group with increasing inter atomic
attraction between their atoms in the crystal. Therefore element at the top of
each group has least density and element at the bottom has highest density.
Alkaline
earth metals are denser than alkali metals due to the presence of M+2
ions in their structure which causes greater inter atomic attraction.
Melting
and boiling point also depends upon inter atomic attractions. Down in a group
melting and boiling point decreases due to decrease in inter atomic attraction.
Melting
and boiling point of alkaline earth metals are more than alkali metals because
alkaline earth metals have more inter atomic attractions than alkali metals.
Reason:
Due to their small atomic size, charge density of Li+ ion and Be++ ions are higher than their group members. These high charge densities result strong polarizing effect and high heats of hydration.
1) First ionization enthalpies of Alkali metals and Alkaline earth metals are generally low. However, ionization enthalpies of IIA elements are higher than IA group elements.
Reason:
Alkali metal and Alkaline earth metals have one and two electrons in their valence orbits respectively. They loose their valence electrons to have the stable configuration of preceding noble gas. Hence 1st ionization enthalpies of IA and IIA group elements are generally low.
Since each Alkaline earth metal has one extra proton than corresponding alkali metal. This higher nuclear charge attracts electrons more strongly; hence increase the ionization enthalpies of IIA group.
2) Ionization potential decreases Lithium to Cesium.
Reason:
Down the group from Lithium to Cesium, atomic size increases due to increasing number of orbits. Therefore valence electrons, in heavier atoms of IA group, are loosely attracted by nucleus and hence low ionization energy is required to remove valence electrons.
3) Alkali metals have larges covalent radii.
Reason:
Alkali metals have smallest nuclear charge in their respective periods and force of attraction of nucleus on valence electrons is weakest. Therefore they have largest covalent radii.
4) Alkali metals and Alkaline earth metals easily form cations.
Reason:
Alkali metals and Alkaline earth metal, having large atomic size and low ionization potential, easily lose their valence electrons to attain the electronic configuration of preceding noble gas and form cations of +1 and +2 charges respectively.
K K
+ + e
-
[Ar] 4s1 [Ar]
Ca Ca+ + e-
[Ar] 4s2 [Ar] 4s1
Ca
+ Ca
++ + e
-
[Ar] 4s1 [Ar]
5) Na+ ions are smaller than sodium atom.
Reason:
Sodium like other alkali metals looses its valence electron, forming Na+ ion, to attain stable electronic configuration of Neon. After removal of electrons third orbit is empty and in Na+ ion number of protons exceeds number of electrons. Therefore strong hold of nucleus over electrons causes decrease in size of sodium ion than sodium atom.
6) Alkaline earth metal ions are more strongly hydrated than alkali metal ions.
Reason:
Hydration of ions depends upon charge density and ionic radii. Due to small ionic radii and more positive charge on ions of group IIA, strong electric field is produced around these ions. Therefore Alkaline earth metal ions are more strongly hydrated than Alkali metal ions.
7) Li+ ions are more readily hydrated than K+ ions.
Reason:
Hydration depends upon charge density of the ion Lithium with small ionic radii, has high chare density as compared to K+ ion. Therefore Li+ ions are more readily hydrated than potassium ion.
8) Alkali metals are powerful reducing agent.
Reason:
Substances having tendency to loose electrons are called reducing agent. Alkali metal wit their largest size and low ionization potential values, can easily loose their electrons.
M M
+ + e
- (M= Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)
Therefore Alkali metals are powerful reducing agent.
9) Li+/Li couple has exceptionally high negative electrode potential.
Reason:
Substances, having tendency to loose electrons, have highly negative values of standard electrode potential. Li+/Li couple has very high negative electrode potential value because high value of heat of hydration for Lithium eases the oxidation of Li and Li+.
10) Alkali metal can not be used in voltaic cells.
Reason:
High negative values of standard electrode potential of Alkali metals indicate ease of oxidation. Since in voltaic cells water is used as solvent and Alkali metals are readily oxidized in water. Therefore they can not be used in voltaic cells.
11) Alkaline earth metals are harder than Alkali metals.
Reason:
Alkali metals and Alkaline earth metals form positively charged M+ and M++ ions respectively. Due to the greater charge attraction of metal ions and electron gas of Alkaline earth metal crystal, they are much harder than Alkali metals.
12) In manufacturing of Sodium, the two electrodes are separated by Iron-gauze diaphragm.
Reason:
In manufacturing of Sodium, Sodium deposits on cathode in molten state and Chlorine gas is obtained on anode. Iron diaphragm is used to separate cathode from anode to prevent reaction between molten sodium and chlorine gas.
2Na + Cl
2 2NaCl
13) Alkali metals are highly reactive.
Reason:
Since all Alkali metals have one electron in their valence shell. They have great tendency to loose their electron to attain electronic configuration of preceding noble gas. Therefore Alkali metals are highly reactive.
14) Na+ ions are discharged at cathode in preference to H+ ion in the manufacturing of Sodium hydroxide.
Reason:
In the manufacturing of NaOH, Na+ ions are more easily deposited on mercury cathode.
Na
+ + e
- Na
Na + Hg Na/Hg
Due to high voltage of H+ ion on the surface of mercury, Na+ ions are more easily deposited on mercury cathode.
15) How the given reaction is avoided during preparation of Sodium hydroxide.
6OH
- + Cl
2 ClO
3- + Cl
- + 3H
2O
Reason:
In the preparation of NaOH, NaOH obtained on cathode and Chlorine gas on anode. To prevent above reaction floating mercury is used as cathode.
16) Zinc hydroxide is soluble in excess of Sodium hydroxide.
Reason:
If NaOH in excess reacts with insoluble Zinc hydroxide as a result complex compound Tetrahydroxozincate(II) ion is formed which is soluble in water.
Zn(OH)
2 + 2OH
- [Zn(OH)
4]
-
Tetrahydroxozincate(II)
17) Plaster of Paris is used in making plaster coats and moulds.
Reason:
Plaster of Paris when mixed with water sets with expansion in few minutes. This setting with expansion property helps in use of Plaster of Paris in plaster coats and moulds.