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S Block

This document discusses the properties of S-block elements, also known as alkali metals. It covers their electron configurations, hydrides, oxides, halides, hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates. The reactivity and stability of compounds generally decreases down the group as the atomic size increases.

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amrutha tk
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44 views10 pages

S Block

This document discusses the properties of S-block elements, also known as alkali metals. It covers their electron configurations, hydrides, oxides, halides, hydroxides, carbonates and bicarbonates. The reactivity and stability of compounds generally decreases down the group as the atomic size increases.

Uploaded by

amrutha tk
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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S BLOCK ELEMENTS

( ALKALI METALS)
PRESENTED BY
AMRUTHA T.K
S-Block elements

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Group IA – Alkali Metals
Electron configuration of alkali metals

Element Symbol Atomic number Electron


configuration
Lithium Li 3 [He]2s1
Sodium Na 11 [Ne]3s1
Potassium K 19 [Ar]4s1
Rubidium Rb 37 [Kr]5s1
Caesium Cs 55 [Xe]6s1
Francium Fr 87 [Rn]7s1
PERIODIC
PROPERTIES

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HYDRIDES
✔ Alkali metals combine with hydrogen to form ionic hydrides M+H-
✔ The reactivity of alkali metals towards hydrogen decreases as we move down
the group
i.e. Li > Na > K > Rb > Cs
✓ due to the decreasing lattice energy of these hydrides with the increasing size of
the metal cation.
✓ Thus the stability of hydrides follows the order
LiH > NaH > KH > RbH > CsH

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OXIDES
✔ All the alkali metals when heated with oxygen form different types of oxides
for example, lithium forms lithium oxide(Li₂O)
sodium forms sodium peroxide(Na2O2 )
while K, Rb and Cs form their respective superoxides MO2 ( where M=K, Rb or Cs).
✔ The increasing stability of peroxides and superoxides of alkali metals from Li to Cs is due to stabilisation
of larger anions by larger cations through lattice energy.
✔ Superoxides are coloured and paramagnetic as these possess three electron bond where one unpaired
electron is present.Sodium peroxide acquires yellow colour due to the presence of traces of superoxide as
an impurity.is KO2orange, is RbO2 brown and CSO2is orange in colour.
✔ All oxides, peroxides and superoxides are basic in nature.The solubility and basic strength of oxides
increase in the order
✔ The stability of peroxides and superoxides increases in the order
✔ 6
HALIDES
✓ Alkali metals combine readily with halogens to form ionic halides

[where M= Li,Na, K etc. and X = F,Cl, Br,I]


✓ The reactivity of alkali metals towards a particular halogen increases in the
order :
Li < Na < K < Rb < Cs
✓ while that of halogen towards a particular alkali metal decreases in the order :

✓ All alkali halides except LiF are freely soluble in water (LiF is soluble in non-
polar solvents. Since it has strong covalent bond.)
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✓Size of the cation - Smaller the size of cation greater is its
polarising power. So LiCl is more covalent than KCl.
✓Size of the anion - Bigger the anion, larger is its polarisability.
Hence the covalent character of lithium halides is in the order -
LiI > LiBr > LiCl > LiF
✓Thus the covalent character of various halides is in the order
HYDROXIDE
✓ Alkali metals hydroxides are very strong bases, highly soluble in water and are not
decomposed on heating.However, LiOH decomposes on heating to give because
latter is more stable than former

✔ Their basic strength increases from LiOH to CsOH due to a corresponding


decresae in the I.E., of the metal in a group,i.e., the order:-
LiOH < NaOH < KOH < RbOH < CsOH

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CARBONATE AND BICARBONATE
✔ is unstable towards heat and decomposes to give

✔ The thermal stability of carbonates increases with the increasing basic strength of
metal hydroxides on moving down the group.Thus the order is

✔ The bicarbonates of all the alkali metals are known. All the bicarbonates (except which
exits in solution) exist as solids and on heating form carbonates.

✔ The solubility of the carbonates and bicarbonates increases on moving down the group due to lower
lattice energies. Thus, order is
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