Chemistry of period 3 elements

This chapter compares the Chemistry of the elements in period 3 of the periodic table. Each element in a
period provides representative Chemistry of the group into which it exists.

The elements of period 3 are Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl and Ar.

Electronic structure
For each of these elements the total number of electrons in the outer most shells is equal to the group
number in which it belongs (table 6.1).

Table 1 The electron configurations of period 3 elements

Elements Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

valence configuration 3s1 3s2 3s23p1 3s23p2 3s23p3 3s23p4 3s23p5 3s23p6

Physical properties
Sodium, magnesium and aluminium are metals whose melting points increase in that order due to
increase in the number of electrons contributed to form metallic bonds. Silicon, phosphorus, sulphur,
chlorine and argon are nonmetals. Silicon, phosphorus and sulphur are solids while chlorine and argon
are gases at room temperature.

Reactions of the elements

a) Reaction with water
Reactivity with water decreases across the period because there is a decrease in electropositivity of
these elements across the period.

i) Sodium reacts vigorously with cold water to form sodium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

2Na (s) + 2H2O (l) → 2NaOH (aq) + H2 (g)

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ii) Magnesium does not react with cold water but reacts with steam to form magnesium oxide and
hydrogen gas.

Mg (s) + 2H2O (g) → MgO (aq) + H2 (g)

iii) Aluminium reacts with steam very slowly to form aluminium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

2Al (s) + 6H2O (l) → 2Al(OH)3 (s) + 3H2 (g)

iv) Silicon, phosphorus, sulphur and argon have no reaction with water.

v) Chlorine reacts with water to form chloric (I) acid and hydrochloric acid.
Cl2 (g) + H2O (l) → HOCl (aq) + HCl (aq)

b. Reaction with NaOH

i) Sodium and magnesium have no reaction with sodium hydroxide because they are metals and
magnesium falls below sodium in the reactivity series.

ii) Aluminium reacts with aqueous NaOH to produce hydrogen and a complex salt -sodium aluminate.
2Al (s) + 2NaOH (aq) + 6H2O (l) → 2NaAl(OH)4 (aq) + 3H2 (g)

This is because aluminium is amphoteric, i.e., possesses both acidic and basic properties.

ii) Chlorine reacts to form sodium chlorate (I), sodium chloride and water.

Cl2 (g) + 2NaOH (aq) → NaOCl (aq) + NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)

Sodium hypochlorate (I) is used as a bleaching and

antiseptic agent such as in Jik (fig. 6.1)

iii) Phosphorus reacts with hot concentrated NaOH to

produce phosphine

P4 (s) + 3OH- (aq) + 3H2O (l) → PH3 (g) + 3H2PO2- (aq)

iv) Na, Mg, Si, S have no reaction with sodium hydroxide.

c. Reaction with HCl.

Reactivity decreases across the period due to decrease in Fig.6.1 Sodium chlorate (I) is used in Jik,
metallic properties. a household detergent

i) Na, Mg, Al react to form H2 and metal salts.

2Na (s) + 2HCl (aq) → 2NaCl (aq) + H2 (g)

Mg (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
2Al (s) + 6HCl (aq) → 2AlCl3 (aq) + 3H2 (g)
ii) Si, P, S, Cl have no reaction with hydrochloric acid.

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d) Oxides
They are formed by reacting the elements with oxygen and the formulae of oxides are given in table 6.2.

Table 2 The oxides of period 3 elements

LEMENTS Na Mg Al Si P S Cl

OXIDES Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P2O5 SO3 Cl2O7

PRINCIPAL Ionic Ionic Ionic- Covalent Covalent Covalent Covalent

BONDING covalent

CHARACTER Basic Basic Amphoteric Acidic Acidic Acidic Acidic

MP\0C 1193 3075 2300 1728 563 30 -91

Trial 1
1
(a) Complete the table below ( 4 2 marks)
Element Formulae of oxides Type of bonding in oxide Structures of oxides
Al
Si
P
(b) Write an equation for the reaction between the oxide of aluminium and sodium hydroxide (1½)

a. Physical properties of oxides of period 3 elements

i) Across the period there is a gradual change in character of oxides from strongly basic to strongly
acidic. Al2O3 is amphoteric oxide, i.e., possesses both basic and acidic properties.

ii) - Na2O, MgO and Al2O3 have high melting points due to the strength of ionic bonding.
- The melting point of magnesium is higher than that of Na2O because MgO, stronger electrostatic
forces since Mg2+ has 2 positive charge, secondary, it has higher molecular mass.
- The melting point of Al2O3 is lower than that of MgO because Al2O3 has bigger covalent character
due to high polarizing power of Al3+ ions.
- SiO2, although covalent, has a high melting point because the crystal of SiO2 is a giant structure in
which silicon and oxygen atoms are bonded together by strong single covalent bonds.
- P2O5 (white solid) consists of P4O10 molecules; these contain electric dipoles due to electron
displacements in their bonds and are quite strongly attracted to each other. This is why its melting
point is high compared with that of P4O10 which consists of simple SO3 molecules.

Cl2O7 has a low melting point because the molecules are held together by the weak van der Waals
forces.

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b. Reaction
I) Reaction of oxides of period 3 elements with water.
 Na2O and MgO react with water to form hydroxides.
Na2O (s) + H2O (l) → 2NaOH (aq)
MgO(s) + H2O (l) → Mg(OH)2 (aq)
 Al2O3 and SiO2 have no reaction with water because they are insoluble oxides.
 P2O5, SO3, Cl2O7 are acid anhydrides, i.e., react with water to form phosphoric, sulpuric and
perchloric acids respectively.
P2O5 (s) + 3H2O (l) → 2H3PO4 (aq)
SO3 (s) + H2O (l) → H2SO4 (aq)
Cl2O7 (g) + H2O (l) → 2HClO4 (aq)

II) Reaction of period 3 oxides with NaOH.

 Na2O, MgO are basic, therefore, have no reaction with water.

 Al2O3 being amphoteric reacts with dilute NaOH to produce sodium aluminate and water.
Al2O3 (g) + 2NaOH (aq) → 2NaAlO2 (aq) + H2O (l)
 SiO2 reacts to form sodium silicate and water.
SiO2 (s) + 2NaOH (aq) → Na2SiO3 (aq) + H2O (l)
 P2O5, SO3 and Cl2O7 react to form salts and water
SO3 (g) + 2NaOH (aq) → Na2SO4 (aq) + H2O (l)
P2O5 (s) + 2NaOH (aq) → 2NaPO3 (aq) + H2O (l)
Cl2O7 (g) + 2NaOH (aq) → 2NaClO4 (aq) + H2O (l)

Trial 2
Write ionic equations for the reactions between sodium hydroxide and (1½ mark each)
(a) Silicon (IV) oxide.
(b) Lead (II) oxide.
(c) Aluminium oxide.

e. Chlorides of period 3 elements

These are formed by reacting the elements with chlorine gas and the physical properties of their
chlorides are shown in table 3.

Table 3 The chlorides of period 3 elements

ELEMENTS Na Mg Al Si P S Cl

CHLORIDES NaCl MgCl2 AlCl3 SiCl4 PCl5 S2Cl2 Cl2

BONDING Ionic Ionic Covalent Covalent Covalent Covalent Covalent

STATES Solid Solid Solid Liquid Solid Liquid Gas

MP\0C 808 714 192 -68 160 -76

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I. Physical properties of period 3 chlorides.
NaCl and MgCl2 have high melting points due to the strength of the ionic bonding. AlCl3 has a fairly high
melting point because in the solid state, it consists of Al2Cl6 molecules and not simple AlCl3. These
molecules are produced through dative bonding between Al and Cl in the Al2Cl6 molecules.
Cl Cl Cl
Al Al
Cl
Cl Cl
SiCl4 and S2Cl2 are liquids and consist of respective simple SiCl4 and S2Cl2 molecules and in the solid state
the molecules are held by weak van der Waals force which explains their very low melting points. PCl5 a
pale yellow solid has a fairly high melting point because the solid undergoes partial ionisation.

2PCl5 ↔ PCl4+ + PCl6-

Trial 3
Explain the following observations:
(a) Sodium chloride melts at 8000C whereas aluminium chloride sublimes at 1800C. (3marks)

Boiling points of chlorides of period 3 elements

The table below shows the boiling points of the chlorides of period 3 elements.
Element Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
Atomic 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
number
Formula of the NaCl MgCl2 AlCl3 SiCl4 PCl3 S2Cl2 Cl2
chloride
Boiling point 1465 1418 180 57 76 136 -35
(oC)

A graph of boiling points of the chlorides against atomic number of the elements.

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Explanation
NaCl and MgCl2 have high boiling points due to strong the ionic bonding.
Aluminium chloride, silicon chloride, phosphorus chloride, disulphur dichloride and chlorine have low
boiling points because their molecules are held by weak molecular forces.
AlCl3 has a fairly high boiling point because in the liquid state, it consists of Al2Cl6 molecules and not
simple AlCl3. These molecules are produced through dative bonding between Al and Cl in the Al2Cl6
molecules.
Cl Cl Cl
Al Al
Cl
Cl Cl
Disulphur dichloride has relatively high boiling point due to its high molecular mass that increases the
strength of the molecular forces

II Reactions of chlorides

i) Reaction with water.

NaCl and MgCl2 have no reaction with water but simply dissociate into ions.
NaCl (s) + (aq) → Na+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)
MgCl2 (s) + (aq) → Mg2+ (aq) + 2Cl- (aq)

ii) AlCl3, SiCl4, PCl5, Cl2 are hydrolyzed by water. However, the extent of the hydrolysis of these
chlorides varies across the period.
AlCl3 is slightly hydrolyzed liberating HCl and Al(OH)3.
AlCl3 (s) + 3H2O (l) → Al(OH)3(s) + 3HCl (aq)
However, when aluminium chloride is added to water, it reacts exothermically to give hydrated
aluminium ions, [ Al (H2O)6]3+ and chloride ions, Cl-. The energy needed to break the Al-Cl covalent
bond is derived from the high enthalpy of hydration of small highly charged Al3+ ions.

Al2Cl6 (s) + 12 H2O (l) → 2[Al(H2O)6]3+(Cl-)3 (aq)

covalent ionic

Hydrated aluminium chloride is readily soluble in water yielding

[Al(H2O)6]3+ (aq) + 3Cl- (aq) ions

SiCl4, PCl5, and S2Cl2 are completely hydrolyzed liberating hydrogen chloride.
PCl5 (s) + 4H2O (l) → 5HCl (aq) + H3PO4 (aq) [phosphoric acid]
SiCl4 (l) + 3H2O (l) → 4HCl (aq) + H2SiO3 (aq) [silicic (IV) acid]
2S2Cl2 + 3H2O (l) → 4HCl (aq) + H2SO3 (aq) + 3S (s)

Hydrogen chloride under moist conditions appears as white fumes. For this reason, SiCl4, PCl5, S2Cl2 fume
in moist air since their hydrolysis leads to formation of HCl.

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Trial 4
The melting points of the chlorides of some elements are given in table 6.4 below.

Table 6.4 Melting points of chlorides

chlorides MgCl2 FeCl3 PCl5
0
Mp/ C 712 282 -112
Type bonding

(a) State the type of bonding that exists in each of the chlorides in the table above. (1 ½ marks)
(b) State what would be observed and write an equation for the reaction that takes place when water is added to

each of the chlorides in the table above. (2½ marks each)

f, The hydrides of period 3 elements.

The hydrides formed by period 3 elements are NaH, MgH2, AlH3, SiH4, PH3, H2S, HCl. These hydrides are
formed by action of hydrogen on the elements.

Table 5 The properties of period 3 hydrides

ELEMENTS NaH MgH2 AlH3 SiH4 PH3 H2S HCl

BONDING Ionic Ionic Ionic Covalent Covalent Covalent Covalent

MP\0C 804 - - - -134 -86 -144

Bpt.\0C 1413 -88 -60 -85

NaH and MgH2 have high melting and boiling points due to the strength of ionic bonds. H2S and HCl
have relatively higher melting and boiling points than SiH4 and PH3 because their molecules are polar
molecules and are held together by hydrogen bonds whereas the molecules of SiH4 and PH3 are non-
polar and therefore, held together by the weak van der Waals forces.

Reactions
i) Reaction of hydrides of period 3 elements with water.
Due to the high polarity of the bonds in the hydrides NaH and MgH2, they react with water readily
producing hydrogen and the metal hydroxides.

NaH (s) + H2O (l) → NaOH (aq) + H2 (g)

MgH2 (s) + 2H2O (l) → Mg(OH)2 (aq) + 2H2 (g)
AlH3, SiH4, and PH3 have no reaction with water due to lack of polarity in their bonds.
H2S and HCl dissociate in water producing acids.

H2S (g) + 2H2O (l) H3O+ (aq) + HS- (aq) + H2O (l) 2H3O+ (aq) + S2- (aq)

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HCl (g) + H2O (l) → H3O+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)

ii) Reactions of hydrides of period 3 elements with hydroxides (NaOH)

HCl and H2 S react with hydroxides to form salts.
HCl (g) + OH- (aq) → Cl- (aq) + H2O (l)
H2S (g) + OH- (aq) → HS- (aq) + H2O (l)
then HS- (aq) + OH- (aq) → S2- (aq) + H2O (l)

iii) Reaction with HCl.

NaH and MgH2 react to form hydrogen and metal salts.
NaH (s) + HCl (aq) → NaCl (aq) + H2 (g)
MgH2 (s) + 2HCl (aq) → MgCl2 + 2H2 (g)

Trial 5
The elements contained in the third short period of the periodic table, given in alphabetic order are; aluminium,
argon, chlorine, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sodium and sulphur.
(a) In the table below, write the formulae of the hydrides formed by the elements listed. State the oxidation states
(or valences) of the elements in these hydrides and classify the bonding in the hydroxides as ionic or covalent.
(6marks)

Elements Formula of hydride Oxidation(or valence) of the Type of bonding

elements in these hydrides
Aluminium
Chlorine
Magnesium
Phosporus
Silcon
(b) The hydrides formed by sodium and sulphur were separately shaken with water.
Write the equations to show the reactions that took place, if any with; (3marks)
(i) sodium hydride.
(ii) Sulphur hydride. (3marks)

Trial 6
(a) Describe how sodium hydroxide can be prepared on industrial scale (Your answer should include
equations for the relevant reaction)
(b) Write equation and state the conditions under which sodium hydroxide can react with
(i) Aluminium
(ii) Phosphorous
(iii) Chlorine

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Trial 7
The atomic number and melting points of oxides of elements of period III of The Periodic Table are
shown in the table below
Element Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
Atomic number 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Oxide Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P2O5 SO3 Cl2O7
Melting point of oxide 1275 2327 2007 1607 560 30 -91
(a) (i) Plot a graph of melting point of oxide against atomic number. (04marks)
(ii) Explain the shape of the graph you have drawn in (a)(i) above
(b) Write equation to show the reaction between
(i) Water and P2O5 (1 ½ marks)
(ii) Sodium hydroxide and
- Al2O3 (2 ½ marks)
- SiO2 (2 ½ marks)
- SO3 (1 ½ marks)
(iii) Hydrochloric acid and Al2O3 (1 ½ marks)

Trial 7
(a) Write an equation for the reaction between and the hydride of
(i) Sodium
(ii) Silcon
(iii) Sulphur
(b) Write an equation for the reaction between sodium hydroxide solution
(i) Aluminium oxide
(ii) Phosphorus pentoxide
(iii) Sulphur dioxide

Trial 8
The table below shows the boiling points of the chlorides of period 3 elements.
Element Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
Atomic 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
number
Formula of the NaCl MgCl2 AlCl3 SiCl4 PCl3 S2Cl2 Cl2
chloride
Boiling point 1465 1418 180 57 76 136 -35
o
( C)

(a) (i) Plot a graph of boiling points of the chlorides against atomic
number of the elements. (3½marks)

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(ii) Explain the shape of the graph (7½marks)

NaCl and MgCl2 have high boiling points due to strong the ionic bonding.
Aluminium chloride, silicon chloride, phosphorus chloride, disulphur dichloride and chlorine have low
boiling points because their molecules are held by weak molecular forces.
AlCl3 has a fairly high boiling point because in the liquid state, it consists of Al2Cl6 molecules and not
simple AlCl3. These molecules are produced through dative bonding between Al and Cl in the Al2Cl6
molecules.
Cl Cl Cl
Al Al
Cl
Cl Cl
Disulphur dichloride has relatively high boiling point due to its high molecular mass that increases the
strength of the molecular forces

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