Explain the trend in reactivity of group 2 elements with water as you go down the group.

As you go down group 2, atom size increases. Larger atoms experience more shielding. There is an increase in nuclear charge going down group 2 elements so you would expect the outer electrons to be held more tightly by the atom due to electrostatic interactions. However, shielding of larger atoms mean that outer electrons are lost more easily as you go down group 2. Therefore, group 2 elements become more reactive with water going down the group.

MF
Answered by Megan F. Chemistry tutor

8057 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is a buffer solution? How to make a buffer solution?


You added 75cm^3 of 0.5moldm^-3 HCl to impure MgCO2, and some was left unreacted. The unreacted HCl reacted completely with 21.6cm^m of 0.5moldm^-3 NaOH. So what is the percentage purity of the MgCO3 sample?


What reaction occurs when benzene is mixed with equal amounts of sulphuric and nitric acid?


Predict whether the lattice energy of magnesium oxide, MgO, is more or less exothermic than the lattice energy of magnesium sulfide, MgS. Justify your answer in terms of the sizes and the charges of the ions involved.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning