Back to the full dot-point answer
SingaporeChemistryQuick questions
Inorganic Chemistry
Quick questions on Group 2 chemistry and trends: Singapore A-Level H2 Chemistry
6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is reactivity with water?Show answer
Group 2 metals react with water to give the hydroxide and hydrogen:
What is reactivity with oxygen?Show answer
The metals burn in oxygen to form basic oxides (), again more vigorously down the group. Magnesium burns with a bright white flame, a classic demonstration.
What is charge density?Show answer
The cation charge density (polarising power) decreases down the group because the charge () stays the same while the radius increases. A high-charge-density cation (small ) polarises (distorts) the electron cloud of a large anion strongly; a low-charge-density cation () polarises it weakly. This single idea explains the thermal-stability trends.
What is q1?Show answer
Write the equation for the thermal decomposition of magnesium nitrate. [1 mark]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain why barium reacts more vigorously with water than magnesium. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
State and explain the trend in solubility of the Group 2 sulfates. [2 marks]
Have a question we have not covered?
This dot-point answer is short enough that we have not extracted many short questions yet. Read the full dot-point answer or ask Mo, our study assistant, in the chat for follow ups.