GROUP -I & II

OXIDES
Sodium Oxide (Na2O):
Preparation :
(i) It is obtained by burning sodium at 180°C in a limited supply of air or oxygen and distilling off the excess
of sodium in vacuum.
1
2Na + O 180 
 Na2O

2 2
(ii) By heating sodium peroxide, nitrate or nitrite with sodium.
Na2O2 + 2Na  2Na2O
2NaNO3 + 10Na  6Na2O + N2
2NaNO2 + 6Na  4Na2O + N2

Properties :
(i) It is white amorphous mass.
(ii) It decomposes at 400°C into sodium peroxide and sodium
2Na2O 400  C
 Na2O2 + 2Na
(iii) It dissolve violently in water, yielding caustic soda.
Na2O + H2O  2NaOH
Sodium Peroxides (Na2O2):
Preparation: It is formed by heating the metal in excess of air or oxygen at 300°, which is free from moisture
and CO2.
2Na + O2  Na2O2
Properties:
(i) It is a pale yellow solid, becoming white in air from the formation of a film of NaOH and Na2CO3.
(ii) In cold water (~0°C) produces H2O2 but at room temperature produces O2. In ice-cold mineral acids
also produces H2O2.
~ 0C
Na2O2 + 2H2O  2NaOH + H2O2
2Na2O2 + 2H2O 25C
 4NaOH + O2
~ 0C
Na2O2 + H2SO4  Na2SO4 + H2O2
(iii) It reacts with CO2, giving sodium carbonate and oxygen and hence its use for purifying air in a confined
space e.g. submarine, ill-ventilated room,
2Na2O2 + 2CO2  2Na2CO3 + O2
(iv) It is an oxidising agent and oxidises charcoal, CO, NH3, SO2.
3Na2O2 + 2C  2Na2CO3 + 2Na [deposition of metallic Na]
CO + Na2O2  Na2CO3
SO2 + Na2O2  Na2SO4
2NH3 + 3Na2O2  6NaOH + N2
(v) It contains peroxide ion [–O–O–]–2

Uses:
(i) For preparing H2O2, O2
(ii) Oxygenating the air in submarines
(iii) Oxidising agent in the laboratory.

s-Block Elements [1]

Oxides of Potassium:
K2O, K2O2 , K2 O3 , KO 2 and KO 3

Colours: White White Red Bright Yellow Orange Solid

Preparation:
(i) 2KNO3 + 10K heating
  6K2O + N2
** K2O heating
  K2O
(White) (Yellow)
** K2O + H2O  2KOH
Controlled
(ii) 2K + O2    K2O2 [Props: Similar with Na2O2]
air at 300 C

(iii) Passage of O2 through a blue solution of K in liquid NH3 yields oxides K2O2 (white), K2O3 (red) and
KO2 (deep yellow) i.e
2 O
K in liq. NH3  K2O2  K2O3  KO2
white red yellow
** KO2 reacts with H2O and produces H2O2 and O2 both
~ 0C
2KO2 + 2H2O  2KOH + H2O2 + O2
KO3 : KOH + O3 (ozonised oxygen)  10 to 15C
  KO 3
(Dry powdered) (orange solid)
Magnesium Oxide (MgO):
It is also called magnesia and obtained by heating natural magnesite.
MgCO3  MgO + CO2
Properties:
(i) It is white powder.
(ii) It's m.p. is 2850°C. Hence used in manufacture of refractory bricks for furances.
(iii) It is very slightly soluble in water imparting alkaline reaction.

Calcium Oxide (CaO):

It is commonly called as quick lime or lime and made by decomposing lime stone at a high temperature
about 1000°C.
CaCO3  CaO + CO2 + 42000 cal

Properties:
(i) It is white amorphous powder of m.p. 2570°C.
(ii) It emits intense light (lime light), when heated in oxygen-hydrogen flame.
(iii) It is an basic oxide and combines with some acidic oxide e.g.
CaO + SiO2  CaSiO3
CaO + CO2  CaCO3
(iv) It combines with water to produce slaked lime.
CaO + H2O  Ca(OH)2

Magnesium Peroxide (MgO2) and Calcium Peroxide (CaO2):

These are obtained by passing H2O2 in a suspension of Mg(OH)2 and Ca(OH)2.

Uses: MgO2 is used as an antiseptic in tooth paste and as a bleaching agent.

s-Block Elements [2]

 HYDROXIDES
Sodium Hydroxides:
Preparation:
(i) Electrolysis of Brine :
NaCl l Na+ + Cl –
At anode : 2Cl–  Cl2 + 2e
At cathode : H+ + e–  H

(ii) Caustication of Na2CO3 (Gossage's method):

Na2CO3 + Ca(OH)2 l 2NaOH + CaCO3
(suspension)
Since the Ksp (CaCO3) < Ksp (Ca(OH)2), the reaction shifts towards right.

Properties:
(i) It is white crystalline, deliquescent, highly corrosive solid.
(ii) It is stable towards heat.
(iii) It's aqueous solution alkaline in nature and soapy in touch.
(iv) NH4Cl + NaOH  NaCl + NH3 + H2O
FeCl3 + 3NaOH  Fe(OH)3  + 3NaCl
Brown ppt

ZnCl2 + 2NaOH  Zn(OH)2  + 2NaCl

Zn(OH)2 + 2NaOH Excess   Na2ZnO2 + 2H2O [Same with AlCl3, SnCl2, PbCl2]
soluble
(v) Acidic and amphoteric oxides gets dissolved easily e.g.
CO2 + 2NaOH  Na2CO3 + H2O
Al2O3 + 2NaOH  2NaAlO2 + H2O
(vi) Aluminium and Zn metal gives H2 from NaOH
2Al + 2NaOH + 2H2O  3H2 + 2NaAlO2
(vii) Several non metals such as P, S, Cl etc. yield a hydride instead of hydrogen.e.g.
4P + 3NaOH + 3H2O  PH3 + 3NaH2PO2 (Disproportionation reaction)

Potassium Hydroxide:
Preparation: Electrolysis of KCl aqueous solution.
Properties: Same as NaOH
**(a) It is stronger base compared to NaOH.
(b) Solubility in water is more compared to NaOH.
(c) In alcohol, NaOH is sparingly soluble but KOH is highly soluble.
(d) As a reagent KOH is less frequently used but in absorption of CO2, KOH is preferably used compared
to NaOH. Because KHCO3 formed is soluble whereas NaHCO3 is insoluble and may therefore choke
the tubes of apparatus used.

Magnesium Hydroxide: It occurs in nature as the mineral brucite.

Preparation: It can be prepared by adding caustic soda solution to a solution of Mg-sulphate or chloride
solution.
Mg+2 + 2NaOH  Na2SO4 + Mg(OH)2

s-Block Elements [3]

Properties:
(i) It can be dried at temperature upto 100°C only otherwise it breaks into its oxide at higher temperature.
Mg(OH)2  MgO + H2O
(ii) It is slightly soluble in water imparting alkalinity.
(iii) It dissolves in NH4Cl solution
Mg(OH)2 + 2NH4Cl  MgCl2 + 2NH4OH
** Thus, Mg(OH)2 is not therefore precipitated from a solution of Mg+2 ions by NH4OH in presence of
excess of NH4Cl.

Calcium Hydroxide:
Preparation: By spraying water on quicklime
CaO + H2O  Ca(OH)2
Properties:
(i) It is sparingly soluble in water.
(ii) It's solubility in hot water is less than that of cold water. Hence solubility decreases with increase in
temperature.
(iii) It readily absorbs CO2 as used as a test for the gas.
(iv) It is used as a mortar.
[Mortar is a mixture of slaked lime (1 Part) and sand (3 Parts) made into paste with water.]

CARBONATES
Sodium Carbonate:
Preparation:
(i) Leblanc Process:
mild heating
NaCl + H2SO4 (conc.)    NaHSO4 + HCl
NaCl + NaHSO4 Strongly
  Na2SO4 + HCl
heated
(Salt Cake)
Na2SO4 + 4C  Na2S + 4CO
Na2S + CaCO3  Na2CO3 + CaS

(ii) Solvay Process:

NH3 + H2O + CO2  NH4HCO3
NaCl + NH4HCO3  NaHCO3 + NH4Cl
2NaHCO3 150 C
 Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2
Properties:
(i) Anhydrous Na2CO3 is called as soda ash, which does not decompose on heating but melts at 852°C.
(ii) It forms number of hydrates.
Na2CO3. H2O  Crystal carbonate  Na2CO3 + moisture in air
Na2CO3. 7H2O  –––––
Na2CO3.10H2O  Washing soda
(iii) Na2CO3 absorbs CO2 yielding sparingly soluble sodium bicarbonate which can be calcined at 250° to
get pure sodium carbonate.
Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 2NaHCO3
(iv) It dissolved in acid with effervescence of CO2 and causticised by lime to give caustic soda.
Na2CO3 + HCl  2NaCl + H2O + CO2
Na2CO3 + Ca(OH)2  2NaOH + CaCO3
Uses: It is widely used in glass making as smelter.

s-Block Elements [4]

Potassium Carbonate:
By leblance process, it can be prepared but by solvay process it cannot be prepared because KHCO3
is soluble in water.
Properties: It resembles with Na2CO3, m.p. is 900°C but a mixture of Na2CO3 and K2CO3 melts at 712°C.

Uses: It is used in glass manufacturing.

Calcium Carbonate:
It occurs in nature as marble, limestone, chalk, coral, calcite etc. It is prepared by dissolving marble or
limestone in HCl and removing iron and aluminium present, by precipitating with NH3 and then adding
(NH4)2CO3 to the solution.
CaCl2 + (NH4)2CO3  CaCO3 + 2NH4Cl
Properties:
(i) It dissociates above 1000°C as follows:
CaCO3  CaO + CO2
(ii) It dissolves in water containing CO2 forming Ca(HCO3)2 but is precipitated from the solution by boiling.
CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 Ca(HCO3)2

Magnesium Carbonate:
It occurs in nature as magnesite, isomorphous with calcite. It is obtained as a white precipitated by
adding sodium bicarbonate to a solution of a magnesium salt; but only basic carbonate, called magnesia
alba, having the approximate composition MgCO3, Mg(OH)2, 3H2O is precipitated.
Properties: Same with CaCO3.

BICARBONATES
Sodium bicarbonates:
Preparation: By absorption of CO2 in Na2CO3 solution.
Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 2NaHCO3
> 100°C sparingly soluble
Uses: It is used in medicine and as baking powder.
Potassium bicarbonates:
Preparation: Same as NaHCO3
Properties: Same with NaHCO3
But It is more alkaline and more soluble in water compared to NaHCO3.

Magnesium bicarbonate:
MgCO3 + CO2 + H2O Mg(HCO3)2

Calcium bicarbonate:
CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O l Ca(HCO3)2

CHLORIDES

Sodium Chloride: Prepared from brine containing 25% NaCl.

Properties:
(i) It is nonhygroscopic but the presence of MgCl2 in common salt renders it hygroscopic.
(ii) It is used to prepare freezing mixture in laboratory [Ice-common salt mixture is called freezing mixture
and temperature goes down to –23°C.]
(iii) For melting ice and snow on road.

s-Block Elements [5]

Potassium Chloride: It is also occurs in nature as sylvyne (KCl) or carnalite (2KCl · MgCl2 · 6H2O)
Uses: It is used as fertiliser.

Magnesium Chloride:
Preparation: By dissolving MgCO3 in dil. HCl
MgCO3 + 2HCl  MgCl2 + H2O + CO2
Properties:
(i) It crystallises as hexahydrate. MgCl2. 6H2O
(ii) It is deliquescent solid.
(iii) This hydrate undergoes hydrolysis as follows:
MgCl2·6H2O  Mg(OH)Cl + HCl + 5H2O
Mg(OH)Cl  MgO + HCl
** Hence, Anh. MgCl2 cannot be prepared by heating this hydrate.
** Because of this formation of HCl. Sea water cannot be used in marine boilers which corrodes the iron
body.
(iv) Anhydrous MgCl2 can be prepared by heating a double salt like. MgCl2 . NH4Cl . 6H2O as follows:
 H2O strong
MgCl2 . NH4Cl . 6H2O   MgCl2 . NH4Cl  MgCl2 + NH3 + HCl
 
Sorel Cement: It is a mixture of MgO and MgCl2 (paste like) which set to hard mass on standing. This is used
in dental filling, flooring etc.

Calcium Chloride:
(i) It is the by-product in solvay process.
(ii) It may also be prepared by dissolving the carbonate in HCl
CaCO3 + 2HCl  CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
Properties:
(i) It is deliquescent crystals.
(ii) It gets hydrolysed like MgCl2 hence anhydrous CaCl2 cannot be prepared.
CaCl2 + H2O l CaO + 2HCl
Hence, anh CaCl2 is prepared by heating CaCl2. 6H2O in a current of HCl (dry)
(iii) Anh. CaCl2 is used in drying gases and organic compounds but not NH3 or alcohol due to the formation
of CaCl2 . 8NH3 and CaCl2 . 4C2H5OH.

SULPHATES
Sodium Sulphate:
Preparation:
It is formed in the 1st step of leblanc process by heating common salt with sulphuric acid.
2NaCl + H2SO4  Na2SO4 + 2HCl
Thus the salt cake formed is crystallised out from its aqueous solution as Na2SO4 . 10H2O. This
called as Glauber's salt.
** One interesting feature of the solubility of glauber's salt is; when crystallised at below 32.4°C, then
Na2SO4. 10H2O is obtained but above 32.4°C, Na2SO4 (anh.) comes out.

Properties: It is reduced to Na2S when fused with carbon.

Na2SO4 + 4C  Na2S + 4CO
Uses: It is used in medicine.

s-Block Elements [6]

Potassium Sulphate:
It occurs in stassfurt potash beds as schonite K 2 SO 4 · MgSO 4 · 6H 2 O and Kainite,
KCl · MgSO4 · 3H2O from which it is obtained by solution in water and crystallisation. It separates from
the solution as anh, crystals whereas Na2SO4 comes as decahydrate.

Uses: It is used to prepare alumn.

Magnesium Sulphate:
Preparation:
(i) It is obtained by dissolving kieserite. MgSO4. H2O in boiling water and then crystallising the solution as
a hepta hydrate. i.e. MgSO4. 7H2O. It is called as Epsom salt.
(ii) It is also obtained by dissolving magnesite in hot dil. H2SO4.
MgCO3 + H2SO4  MgSO4 + H2O + CO2
(iii) or by dissolving dolomite (CaCO3, MgCO3) in hot dil. H2SO4 and removing the insoluble CaSO4 by
filtration.
(iv) It is isomorphous with FeSO4. 7H2O, ZnSO4.7H2O

Calcium Sulphate: It occurs as anhydrite CaSO4 and as the dihydrate CaSO4. 2H2O, gypsum, alabaster or
satin-spar.
Properties:
(i) Gypsum (CaSO4. 2H2O) 2CaSO4. H2O (Plaster of paris)

(anhydrous)CaSO4.
Dead burnt. plaster
(ii) Solubility of CaSO4 at first increases upto a certain point and then decreases with rise of temperature.
(iii) Plaster paris is used in mould making due to its porous body.

s-Block Elements [7]