Asked in UHS MDCAT 2018 2018Moderate

Down the group acid-base behaviour of metallic oxides of group 2 elements changes to:

Correct answer: A. More basic

  • A. More basic
  • B. No change
  • C. Less basic
  • D. More acidic

Explanation

Group II metal oxides become more basic as you go down the column. As the electronegativities of the metals decrease down the group, hence the change in electronegativity difference between the metal and oxygen increases down the group. The greater the difference in electronegativity the more ionic the metal-oxygen bond becomes. The more ionic the metal-oxygen bond the more basic the oxide is.

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About Reactions of Group II Elements

Group II reactions cover the behaviour of beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium with water, oxygen, halogens, acids and nitrogen. The trends in reactivity, hydroxide solubility and basicity, along with the thermal decomposition of carbonates and nitrates, depend on increasing atomic size down the group.

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