Trends in chemical properties

(chemical periodicity)
Eg : elements in period 3
( Na to Ar )

Reaction with water

1. 2Na + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2

2. a. Mg +2H2O

slow

cold

fast

Mg(OH)2 +H2 (g)

b. Mg + H2O MgO + H2(g)

steam

Reaction with oxygen

( Na to S )

1. 4Na + O2 2Na2O
Observation : burns with yellow flame
to form white solid
2. 2Mg (s) + O2(g) 2MgO (s)
white
Observation : burns with intense white
flame to form white solid
3. 4Al + 3O2 2Al2O3

4. Si + O2 SiO2
5. P4 + 5O2 P4O10
white solid at rtp

(or 4P + 5O2 P4O10 )

Observation: burns with white/yellow
flame.
Another possible compound : P4O6

6. S + O2 SO2
Observation: burns with a blue flame/
choking or pungent gas produced
Further oxidation: 2SO2 + O2 2SO3

Reaction with chlorine

( Na to P )

1. 2Na + Cl2 2NaCl

white solid
Observation : burns with yellow flame /
forms white solid /colour of Cl2 disappears
2. Mg + Cl2 MgCl2
Observation : burns with intense white
flame / forms white solid

1800 C

3. 2Al + 3Cl2 2AlCl3 Al2Cl6

covalent
simple molecular
ions formed in aq soln
Al3+(aq) or [Al(H2O)6]3+ and Cl-(aq)
Note : Al2O3 is ionic as difference in
electronegativity between Al and O is larger

Method :
Pass dry chlorine gas over heated
aluminium foil in a tube.

Si + 2Cl2 SiCl4 (l)

P4 + 10Cl2 4PCl5 (s)
white solid
( or 4P + 10Cl2 4PCl5 )
Observation : burns with white flame / forms
white solid
Another possible compound : PCl3 , colourless
liquid
4.
5.

Oxides of elements in Period 3

I) Trend in acidity of oxides :
Na2O MgO
Al2O3
SiO2 P4O10 SO3

Ionic oxide

Mainly ionic

Basic oxide

Oxide

Covalent oxide
Acidic oxide

Amphoteric oxide
Oxides becomes more acidic across the period

1. Na2O : basic oxide

a. dissolves in water strongly alkaline
solution
Na2O + H2O 2NaOH (pH=13)
NaOH + HCl NaCl + H2O
(alkali)

b. able to neutralize acids

Na2O + 2HCl 2NaCl + H2O
2. MgO : basic oxide
a. dissolves slightly in water weakly
alkaline solution

MgO + H2O Mg(OH)2 Mg2+ + 2OHpH = 9

Mg(OH)2 + 2HCl MgCl2 + 2H2O
(alkali)

b. able to neutralize acids :

MgO + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2O
3. Al2O3 :
a. stronger ionic bonds not broken by
water
therefore insoluble in water

b. nature of oxide : amphoteric

i) Al2O3 + 6H+ 2Al3+ + 3H2O
acid
ii) Al2O3 + 2OH- + 3H2O 2Al(OH)4alkali
aluminate ion

c. nature of hydroxide : amphoteric

i) Al(OH)3 + 3H+ Al3+ + 3H2O
ii) Al(OH)3 + OH- Al(OH)44. SiO2 :
a. giant molecular structure with strong
Si O bonds not broken by water ,
therefore insoluble in water

b. nature of oxide : acidic oxide

SiO2 + 2OH
SiO32- + H2O
hot , conc
silicates
Notes :
(1) no reaction with aqueous alkali
(2) SiO2 + O2- SiO32acidic basic silicates

5. Oxides of P and S: P4O6 / P4O10*, SO2 /SO3

a. nature of oxide : acidic oxide
b. hydrolyses in water acidic solutions
i) P4O10 + 6H2O 4H3PO4 (phosphoric
acid)*
ii) P4O6 + 6H2O 4H3PO3 (phosphonic
acid)
Observation : white solid dissolves

iii) SO2 + H2O H2SO3 (sulfurous

acid)
iv) SO3 + H2O H2SO4

c. able to neutralize alkali :

i) P4O10 + 12OH- 4PO43- + 6H2O
phosphate
ii) SO2 + 2OH- SO32- + H2O
sulfite
iii) SO3 + 2OH- SO42- + H2O

II) Trends in physical

properties of the oxides
Related to structure and bonding
Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2
P4O10 SO3

Ionic oxides

Covalent oxide

Covalent oxide

Giant ionic structure

Giant molecular
structure

Simple molecular
structure

1. Na2O , MgO , Al2O3 :

a. ionic with giant ionic structure
b. strong ionic bonds , therefore high
m.p
( m.p MgO Al2O3 Na2O )
c. presence of mobile ions,
good electrical conductor in aqueous
solution or molten state

2. SiO2 :
a. covalent with giant molecular
structure
b. numerous strong covalent bonds
between atoms , therefore relatively
high m.p
( lower than m.p of MgO and Al2O3 ,
but higher than Na2O )

c. molecular , all electrons paired in

covalent bonds
no free electrons or ions non
conductor
3. P4O10 , SO3 :
a. covalent with simple molecular
structure

b. exists as discrete molecules held by

weak VDW forces low m.p
m.p of P4O10 (more electrons) SO3
c. molecular , all electrons paired in
covalent bonds ,
no free electrons or ions ,
therefore non conductor

m.p of
oxides

Na Mg

Al

Si

Atomic no

Chlorides of elements in
Period 3

I)Reaction with water

1. NaCl : dissolve in water without
chemical reaction neutral solution
NaCl (s) Na+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)
2. MgCl2 :
a. ionic with a little covalent character

b. relatively high charge density on

Mg2+ causes polarisation of water
Undergoes slight hydrolysis in water to
form slightly acidic solution (pH=6.5)
MgCl2 + H2O Mg(OH)Cl(s) + HCl(aq)
However only very slight reaction
observation : dissolves without reaction

3. AlCl3 :
a.covalent with a little ionic character
b.high charge density on Al3+ polarises
water
Undergoes substantial hydrolysis in
water to form acidic solution ( pH=3 )

AlCl3 + 6H2O [Al(H2O)6]3+ + 3Clcovalent

ionic
3+ + H O [Al(H O) OH]2+
[Al(H2O)6]
2
2
5
+ H3O+
( first of 3 equations , polarisation continues )
Overall equation :
AlCl3 + 3H2O Al(OH)3 + 3HCl (*)
H=exothermic

4. SiCl4 ,PCl3/PCl5
a. covalent chlorides
b. hydrolysed in water strongly acidic
solution ( pH = 0 3 )
SiCl4 + 2H2O SiO2 + 4HCl(g) HCl(g):
Observation
PCl3 + 3H2O H3PO3 + 3HCl(g) white fumes
PCl5 + 4H2O H3PO4 + 5HCl(g) SiO2 white
solid

II)Trends in physical
properties of the chlorides

Related to structure and bonding

NaCl MgCl2

AlCl3

SiCl4 PCl5

Ionic

Covalent

Covalent

Giant ionic
structure

Layered
structure

Simple
molecular
structure

1. NaCl , MgCl2 :
a. ionic with giant ionic structure
b. strong ionic bonds therefore high
m.p/b.p
( m.p NaCl MgCl2 )
c. presence of free ions : good
conductor when molten or in aqueous
solution

2. AlCl3 :
a. predominantly covalent with layered
structure in the solid state
b. in each layer , all AlCl3 molecules are
joined by dative bonds and forms a
giant structure
Layers are held together by weak VDW
forces

c. when it melts , the VDW forces and

dative bonds have to be broken
relatively high m.p / b.p but lower than
that of ionic chlorides
d. molecular , all electrons paired in
covalent bonds
no free electrons or ions
therefore non conductor

3. SiCl4 , PCl5 / PCl3 :

a. covalent with simple molecular
structure
b. i) exist as discrete molecules held by
weak VDW forces
therefore low m.p / b.p

ii) m.p of PCl5 > m.p of SiCl4

Reason :
no of electrons in PCl5 > SiCl4
stronger VDW forces , higher b.p/m.p
PCl5 ( white solid ) ,
SiCl4 ( colourless liquid )

c. molecular , all electrons paired in

covalent bonds
no free electrons or ions
therefore non conductor

b.p of
chlorides

Na

Mg

Al

Si

Atomic no

Patterns in the formula of

compounds (oxides & chlorides)

1. Oxidation no of the element = no of

electrons used for bonding
Eg
Compound
Oxidation no
SO2
+4
Na2O
+1
PCl3
+3

2. Many of the oxidation no corresponds to

loss or gain of enough electrons to obtain
a stable octet in its outermost shell.
Eg
Na
- 1e
Na+
1s22s22p63s1
1s22s22p6
P
[Ne]3s23p3

+ 3e

P3-

[Ne]3s23p6

3. The maximum oxidation no = group no

= no of valence electrons
Egs: oxides
a. S (Group 16) : forms SO2 and SO3
max oxidation no (in SO3 )= +6
b. P (Group 15) : forms P4O6 and P4O10
max oxidation no in P4O10 = + 5

Trend in maximum oxidation:

Increases across the period
Na
Si
Cl
+1
+4
+7