Q1. What is periodicity? Explain the cause of periodicity.

Periodicity is the repetition of similar physical and chemical properties of elements at regular
intervals when they are arranged in order of increasing atomic number. The cause of periodicity is
the recurrence of similar electronic configurations in the outermost shells of atoms after a fixed
interval, which governs their chemical behaviour.

Q2. Electron gain enthalpy of F is unexpectedly less negative than Cl. Explain.
The electron gain enthalpy of fluorine is less negative than that of chlorine because fluorine has a
very small atomic size. The incoming electron in fluorine experiences strong repulsions from the
already present electrons in the compact 2p orbital. In chlorine, the size is larger and repulsions are
less, so electron gain enthalpy is more negative.

Q3. Why ionization energy of B is less than Be and of O is less than N?

The ionization energy of boron is less than beryllium because beryllium has a stable fully filled 2s²
configuration, which requires more energy to remove an electron. The ionization energy of oxygen
is less than nitrogen because nitrogen has a stable half-filled 2p³ configuration, while oxygen has
paired electrons in one orbital, causing repulsion and making electron removal easier.

Q4. What are isoelectronic species? Explain the decrease in size of following ions: O²■ > F■
> Na■ > Mg²■.
Isoelectronic species are atoms or ions having the same number of electrons but different nuclear
charges. As nuclear charge increases, the attraction between the nucleus and electrons increases,
resulting in smaller size. Hence the size decreases in the order O²■ > F■ > Na■ > Mg²■.

Q5. Be and Mg do not impart any colour to flame. Explain.

Beryllium and magnesium do not impart colour to flame because of their very small atomic sizes
and high ionization energies. The energy of the flame is insufficient to excite their outer electrons to
higher energy levels, and hence no characteristic colour is observed.

Q6. Why Li is the strongest reducing agent among all alkali metals?
Lithium is the strongest reducing agent among alkali metals because, although it has the highest
ionization energy, it also has the highest hydration enthalpy due to its small ionic size. The large
hydration energy compensates for its ionization energy, giving lithium a highly negative reduction
potential and making it the strongest reducing agent.

Q7. Explain the difference in complexing ability of cryptates and crown ethers with alkali
metals.
Crown ethers and cryptates are cyclic ligands that can bind alkali metal cations. Crown ethers
contain oxygen atoms with lone pairs that coordinate with the cation. Cryptates, however, are
three-dimensional cage-like molecules that completely enclose the cation, giving stronger binding
and greater stability to the complex. Hence cryptates have higher complexing ability than crown
ethers.

Q8. Why alkali metals dissolve in liquid ammonia to give blue colour solution? Also
comment on the reducing nature of solution.
When alkali metals dissolve in liquid ammonia, they ionize to form metal cations and free electrons.
The free electrons get solvated by ammonia molecules, and these solvated electrons absorb visible
light, imparting a deep blue colour to the solution. Such solutions are good conductors of electricity
and are highly reducing in nature because of the presence of solvated electrons.

Q9. What is diagonal relationship? What are its cause? Explain with suitable examples.
Diagonal relationship is the similarity in properties between elements placed diagonally in the
periodic table, especially between second and third period elements like Li–Mg and Be–Al. The
cause of this relationship is the similarity in ionic sizes, charge-to-radius ratios, and electronegativity
values. For example, both Li and Mg form covalent chlorides and their carbonates decompose on
heating to give oxides and carbon dioxide.

Q10. Li■CO■ is unstable while other alkali metal carbonates are stable. Explain.
Lithium carbonate is unstable because the small Li■ ion has a very high polarizing power, which
strongly distorts the large carbonate ion. This distortion makes Li■CO■ thermally unstable, and it
decomposes into lithium oxide and carbon dioxide. Larger alkali cations are less polarizing, so their
carbonates remain stable.

Q11. Which of two MgCl■ and BeCl■ will be hydrated more and why?
Beryllium chloride will be more hydrated than magnesium chloride. This is because Be²■ ion is
smaller and has a higher charge density compared to Mg²■ ion, which increases its polarizing
power. Hence, BeCl■ attracts and holds water molecules more strongly than MgCl■.

Q12. Explain why Li form chlorides having covalent character.

Lithium chloride has covalent character because the Li■ ion is very small and has a high polarizing
power, which distorts the electron cloud of the chloride ion. According to Fajan’s rules, a small
cation with high charge density and a large anion favour covalent bond formation, making LiCl
covalent in nature.

Q13. Explain why alkali metals are soft and have low melting points.
Alkali metals are soft and have low melting points because their metallic bonding is weak. Metallic
bonds depend on the number of valence electrons available for delocalization. Since alkali metals
have only one valence electron, their metallic bonds are weak, making them soft and giving them
relatively low melting points.

Q14. Why LiF is insoluble in water whereas other alkali metal fluorides are soluble?
Lithium fluoride is insoluble in water because it has very high lattice enthalpy due to the small size
of Li■ and strong Li■–F■ attraction. The hydration energy released is not enough to overcome the
lattice energy, so it does not dissolve. In contrast, other alkali metal fluorides have lower lattice
energies which can be overcome by hydration, hence they are soluble.

Q15. Which out of Li, Na, Cs reacts violently with water and why?
Among lithium, sodium, and caesium, caesium reacts most violently with water. This is because
reactivity of alkali metals increases down the group as ionization energy decreases. Caesium has
the lowest ionization energy, so it loses its outer electron most easily, reacting explosively with
water to release hydrogen gas and a large amount of heat.