levo

Group II Elements and Their Compounds

Reactions of the elements with oxygen, water and dilute acids

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit AS 2

Overview

Flame colours given by calcium, strontium and barium, reaction of magnesium with cold water and give the equation and reaction of calcium with cold water and give the equation.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

How do magnesium and calcium react with oxygen, and does burning in oxygen become more or less vigorous down the group?

Key term

Write the equation for burning magnesium in oxygen and describe what is seen.

Key term

Write the equation for the reaction of calcium with oxygen.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Write the equation for burning magnesium in oxygen and describe what is seen.

    Model answer

    The equation is 2Mg(s) + O₂(g) → 2MgO(s), and the metal burns with a brilliant white flame to leave a white powder.

  2. 2

    Write the equation for the reaction of calcium with oxygen.

    Model answer

    The equation is 2Ca(s) + O₂(g) → 2CaO(s).

  3. 3

    State and explain the trend in the vigour of the reaction with oxygen down the group.

    Model answer

    The reaction becomes more vigorous down the group, because the metals lose their outer electrons more readily as the ionisation energies fall.

  4. 4

    Why does a freshly cut piece of calcium quickly lose its shine in air?

    Model answer

    The exposed surface reacts with oxygen in the air to form a dull layer of calcium oxide.

  5. 5

    State the flame colours given by calcium, strontium and barium.

    Model answer

    Calcium gives a brick red flame, strontium a crimson flame and barium an apple green flame.

  6. 6

    Describe the reaction of magnesium with cold water and give the equation.

    Model answer

    Magnesium reacts extremely slowly, giving only a few bubbles over several days, as Mg(s) + 2H₂O(l) → Mg(OH)₂(s) + H₂(g).

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book
2Open book
3Closed book

The 3-step method, run for you

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance
Atomic Structure
Bonding
Intermolecular Forces and Structure

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

Yellow to .
brownbluegreen

Blank Blitz makes facts automatic

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

AThe reactants total 159.6 + 84.0 = 243.6.
BThe two moles of iron have a mass of 111.6.
CThe atom economy is 45.8%.

Build It gets the exam shape right

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

There are 1000 cm³ in one dm³.
TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Every question in Group II Elements and Their Compounds, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.