Reaction of Group 2 metals with oxygen:

Reaction of Group-2 metals with oxygen :

Hi fellows!!  This is Chemaddicts again to the solution. Today, we will discuss about the reaction of Gr-2 metals with oxygen.

So, let’s get started!!

Before going to the discussion of the reaction of Gr-2 metals with oxygen, we need to clear the confusion between the concept of burning metal and metal ions .

Most of the students mix up the concept of  burning metals and metal ions.

This is because most metals and metal ions in Gr-2 have same flame colour. There is a difference and we will see today:

Today, we will discuss the reaction of metals with oxygen gas:

All Gr-2 metals except Barium react with oxygen to give metal oxides whereas Barium reacts with oxygen to give Barium peroxide ( BaO₂ ).

Equations for the reactions:

Here Mg burns with bright white flames.

Here, in this case , we are burning Mg not Mg ion . This is the difference here. Mg²⁺ ion have no flame colour. Don’t write the flame colour of Mg²⁺ ion as Mg metal.

Other Group-2 metals below Mg give the same colour as the metal cations. So, don’t get confused.

Here Ca burns with brick red flames like Ca²⁺ ions. 

Here Calcium metal will give the same colour as the Ca²⁺ ion.

Here Sr burns with crimson flames like  Sr²⁺ ions. 

Here Strontium metal will give the same colour as the Sr²⁺ ion.

(Here Ba burns with apple green flames like Ba²⁺ ions. )

Here Barium metal will give the same colour as the Ba²⁺ ion.

If you wanna have some other video tutorials, you will find them here:

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