1

UNIT 14
IA AND IIA OR GROUPS 1 AND 2 : S-BLOCK ELEMENTS
(Alkali metals; Alkaline earth metals)
Select the lettered item which best completes
each of the following:
1.

The outer shell electronic configuration of

Cs (Z =55)
(a) [Ne] 3 S1
(b) [Ar] 4 S1
(c) [kr] 5 S1
(d) [Xe] 6 S1

2.

The last electron has the quantum numbers

n = 5, l =0, m =0, s = +1/2. the atomic
numbe of the element is
(a) 19
(b) 37
(c) 55
(d) 11

3.

Alkali metals areusually prepared by

(a) reduction of their oxides by carbon
(b) reduction of their oxides with Al
(c) electrolysis of their molten chlorides
(d) thermal
decomposition
of
their
carbonates

4.

Which compound possesses the highest

lattice energy?
(a) CsI
(b) KF
(c) LiF
(d) NaCl

5.

Which of the following compounds has the

highest melting point ?
(a) NaF
(b) NaCl
(c) NaBr
(b) NaI

6.

The alkali metals are strong reducing agents

due to
(a) low ionization energy
(b) large ionic radii
(c) high enthalpy of hydration
(d) potential value

7.

The covalent radius of the potassium atom

is 0.203 manometer. The radius of K+ ion
will be
(a) 0.013
(b) 0.254
(c) 0.133

(d) 0.231
8.

Which one of the following has lowest first

ionization energy?
(a) Li
(b) Na
(c) Rb
(d) Cs

9.

Li (s) Li+(aq) + e , E = 3.67V, Li is the

best reducing agent due to its
(a) low I.E.
(b) small ionic radius
(c) low heat of sublimation of Li
(d) high enthalpy of bydration of Li+

10. The physical property of the group IA

metals which increases numericaly as the
groupis descended is
(a) first I.E.
(b) ionic radii
(c) melting point
(d) hydration enthalpy of M+ ions
11. Which of the following does not produce an
alkaline solution in water?
(a) NaHCO3
(b) NaOH
(c) Na2CO3
(d) NaHSO4
12. Which one of the following concerning the
compounds of Lithium is false ?
(a) the hydroxide, carbonate, nitrate
decomposes to give the oxide on heating
(b) it is the most electro- negative element
of group IA
(c) the hydrogen carbonate cannot be
isolated as a stable solid
(d) it forms a peroxide but not a superoxide
13. Which alkali metal has the lowest melting
point and exists as aliquid ?
(a) Na
(b) K
(c) Rb
(d) Cs
14. Which of the following Carbonates does not
yield CO2 on heating ?
(a) Li2CO3
(b) Na2 CO3

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(c) a hexagonal clowepacked structure

(d) a cubic close packed structure

(c) MgCO3
(d) CaCO3
15. A solution of Na in liquid NH3 serves a
good reducing agent due to reaction
(a) 2Na + 2NH3 2NaNH2 + H2
(b) NaNH2 + N2O NaN3 + H2O
(c) 2Na + 2N2O 2NaOH + H2
(d) solvated electron
16. A neutral white solid (sodium salt) on
heating liberates a gas and leaves an
alkaline residue. The gas turn lime water
milky. The solid is
(a) Na2CO3
(b) NaHSO4
(c) NaHCO3
(d) NaNH4HPO4
17. A solid on heating gives a gas which
supports combustion of Mg and P4 is
(a) NH4NO2
(b) NaNO3
(c) NH4NO3
(d) Pb(NO3)2
18. In the solva process , the chief products are
(a) CaCO3 and Ca(HCO3)2
(b) Na2CO3 and NaHSO4
(c) Na2SO4 and NaHSO4
(d) CaCl2 and Ca(NO3)2
19. Among the alkali metals, the metal with the
lowest boiling point is
(a) Na
(b) K
(c) Rb
(d) Cs
20. The metal which is difficult to be extracted
from its oxide
(a) Fe
(b) Zn
(c) Cs
(d) Mg
21. Reaspm fpr a;la;o ,eta;s tp ne spft os
(a) they are less metallic in nature
(b) there is only one valency electron per
nucleus
(c) they do not have close packed structures
(d) they have high I.E.
23. AB AB....... close packing of identical
spheres give rise to
(a) a face centred cubic structure
(b) a body-centred cubic structure

24. The CsCl unit cell is best decribed as

(a) primitive cubic
(b) body-centered cubic
(c) face -centered
(d) orthorhombic
25. One would expect the elemental form of Cs
room temperature to be a
(a) Net-work solid
(b) metallic solid
(c) non-polar liquid
(d) ionic liquid
26. A compound formed by uniting the
elements having Z=55 with the element
having Z=16 will involve bonds that are
(a) polar covalennt
(b) non-polar covalent
(c) Co-ordinate covalent
(d) electrovalent
27. Banking powder is
(a) NaHCO3
(b) potassium acid tartarate
(c) mixture (a) and (c)
(d) mixture of NaHCO3
28. The reaction occuring in soda-acid fire
extinguisher is
(a) 2NaHCO3 + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + 2H2O
+ CO2
(b) 4NaHCO3 + Al2(SO4)3 2Na2SO4 +
2Al(OH)3 + 6O2
(c) 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2
(d) NaHCO3+ KHC4H4O8 NaKC4H4O6 +
H2O + CO2
29. An alkali metal salt which is neither
efflorescent
nor
deliquescent
or
hygroscopic is
(a) Na2CO3.10H2 O
(b) Na2SO4.10H2O
(c) NaOH
(d) NaCl
30. A metal that readily reacts with cold water
is
(a) K
(b) Mg
(c) Fe
(d) Zn
31. Which of the following configurations
corresponds to alkaline earth metals

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(a) [Ne]3S23p2
(b) [Ar]3d24S2
(c) [Ar]3d104s2
(d) [Ar]4s2

(c) CaCl2
(d) H2SO4

32. The member of group II which has the

simplest electronic configurtion is
(a) Ca
(b) Mg
(c) Ba
(d) Be
33. Addition of excess NaOH produces
precipitate in which one of the following
(a) SnCl2
(b) Al2(SO4)3
(c) ZnSO4
(d) FeBr3
34. The most probable reason that the alkaline
earth metals give dipositive ions instead of
unipositive
(a) the 1st and 2nd I.E. are not very much
different
(b) compounds of M+ ions are not stable
(c) compounds with dipositive ions have
more lattice energy than those with
unipositive
(d) The dipositive ions have more charge on
it than the unipositive ions
35. Alkaline earth metals form hydrated
crystalline
solids
such
as
MgCl2.6H2O.CaCl2.6H2O. This is
(a) smaller ionic size
(b) increased charge on ions
(c) higher hydration enthalpies
(d) high oxidation potential
36. The thermal stability of alkaline earth
carbonates increases from Be to Ba because
(a) Covalent nature decreases and ionic
nature increases
(b) lattice energy increases
(c) electropositive nature increases
(d) none of these
37. Which alkaline earth metal produces
covalent compounds ?
(a) Ca
(b) Mg
(c) Sr
(d) Be
38. The best reagent to absorb traces of water is
(a) Mg(ClO4)2
(b) silica gel

39. Whcih of the following correctly represents

the 2nd I.E. of Cas ?
(a) Ca(s) Ca2+ (s) + 2e
(b) Ca(s) Ca2+ (s) + 2e
(c) Ca+(g) Ca2+ (g) + e
(d) Ca(g) Ca2+ (s) + 2e
40. Which of the following compounds
possesses the greater degree of covalent
character in its
(a) BeF2
(b) MgF2
(c) CaF2
(d) BaF2
41. A 0.01 M solution of a reagent gives a
precipitate when CO2 is dubbled inot it. The
reagent could
ions is
(a) KOH
(b) CsOH
(c) Na2CO3
(d) Ba(OH)2
42. Which
of the following decreases
ions decending from Be to Ba ?
(a) solubility of Hydroxides in water
(b) basic strenght of oxides
(c) thermal stabilities of the carbonates
(d) sum of the first two ionization energies
43. Which one of the following statements
is
due to
correct ? The chlorides of II goup metals
(a) are all hygroscopc with the exception of
BeCl2which hydrolysis in air
(b) increase in lattice enthalpy from BeCl2 to
BaCl2
(c) decrease in melting point from BeCl2 to
BaCl2
(d) are all insoluble except BaCl2
44. Which of the follow statement is incorrect
for Be ?
(a) most of its compounds are largely
covalent
(b) it forms a covalent structure and is a
linear molecule
(c) it has distinctive group properties due to
smaller size and high electronegativity
(d) it fors Be2+ ions because of the low
value of the sum of 1st and 2nd I.E.
45. Co,plexes conataining Be and having
tetrahedral geometry are

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(a) [Be(H2O)4]2+
(b) [BeF4]2
(c) [BeCl4]2
(d) all the above

(c) CaO + Al2O3 + SiO2

(d) Calcium silicate + gupsum

46. Gypsum CaSO4.2H2O on heating to 120C

forms plaster of paris which has
composition
(a) 2CaSO4 . 3H2O
(b) CaSO4.H2O
(c) 2CaSO4.H2O
(d) CaSO4
47. Insoluble rock phosphate is coverted into an
Important fertilizer by treatment with
(a) HNO3
(b) H2SO4
(c) NaOH
(d) HF
48. The formula of Epsom salt is
(a) MgSO4.7H2O
(b) Mg(ClO4)2
(c) MgCO3 .CaCO3
(d) KCl2MgCl2.6H2O
49. Of the following, the metal that does not
give a red flame test is
(a) Li
(b) Sr
(c) Rb
(d) Ba

54. Gypsum is added to cement

(a) to prevent it from undergoing hydrolysis
(b) to increase it strength
(c) to accelerate the process of setting of
cement
(d) to retard the presenting of cement

55. When CaC2 is heated in a current of

nitrogen a t 1000, at the product formed is
(a) CaCN2
(b) CaN
(c) CaCN + C
(d) Ca(NO2)2
56. Compared with the alkaline earth metals,
the alkali metals have
(a) greater hardness
(b) higher melting point
(c) SMALLER IONIC RADII
(d) lower ionization energy
57. A m,etal is obtained commercially from sea
water
(a) Na
(b) Mg
(c) Ba
(d) Ra

50. Lithopone, a white higment, is

(a) Zns
(b) BaSO4
(c) Mixture of ZnS and BaSO4
(d) mixture of BaSO4 and SrSO4

58. Lithia water used in medicine as a remedy

for gout and rheumatism is
(a) lithium carbonate
(b) lithium bicarbonate
(c) lithium chloride
(d) lithium salicylate

51. Solubility of sulphates in water decreases

from MgSO4 to BaSO4 it is due to the fact
that
(a) ionic nature increases
(b) Size of M2+ ion increases
(c) lattice energy decrease
(d) hydration enthalpy of M2+ ions decreases

59. When Mg(NH4 )PO4 is heated, the product

is
(a) Mg3(PO4)2
(b) MgHPO4
(c) Mg2P2O7
(d) (NH4)3PO4

52. Portland cement consists of

(a) CaO, SiO2 , SO3, and Fe2O3
(b) Cao, SO3, MgO, Na2O
(c) SiO2, MgO, Na2O, SO3
(d) CaO, SiO2, Al2O3,Fe2O3 ,
SO3,Na2O
53. Portland cement is
(a) Calcium aluminium Silicate
(b) Calcium aluminate + Ca. silicate

MgO,

60. Which of the following compounds

decomposes on heating similar to LiNO3
(a) Be(NO3)2
(b) Sr(NO3)2
(c) Mg(NO3)2
(d) all
61. The chemical formula of Norweganian
salt is
(a) Ca(NO3)2.CaO
(b) 2CaSO4.H2O

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(c) (CH3COO)2 Ba
(d) Ca(H2PO4)2 . H2O + 2CaSO4.2H2O
62. The least obundant IIA group element in
the earths crust is
(a) Sr
(b) Ca
(c) Ra
(d) Ba
63. The salt which is produced as bye-product
in solvay process
(a) CaCO3
(b) CaCl2
(c) CaSO4
(d) Na2CO3
64. The superoxide ion, found in KO2 , has the
structure:
(a) O O
(b) O = O
(c) O O
(d) [O O]
65. Which metal is most difficult to extract
from its oxide ?
(a) Ca
(b) Mg
(c) Ag
(d) Cs
66. Mark the nitrate which decomposes
differently on heating ?
(a) NaNO3
(b) KNO3
(c) LiNO3
(d) RbNO3
67. K2CO3 cant be prpared by solvay process
because
(a) KHCO3 is unstable
(b) KHCO3 is very soluble
(c) KHCO3 cant be prepared by passing
NH3 and CO2 through Kcl solution
(d) K2CO3 is more soluble than Na2CO3
68. Which one of the following oxides is
thermally most stable ?
(a) Na2 O
(b) Ag2
(c) HgO
(d) Au2O3
69. LiF is insoluble in water while NaF, KF are
soluble. This is due to its
(a) Low H lattice
(b) high H lattice
(c) smaller ionic size of Li+
(d) high covalent nature

70. Which alkali metal ion in solution conducts

electric current most readily ?
(a) Cs+
(b) Rb+
(c) K+
(d) Li+
71. Polarizing powedr of an element is
(a)
(b)

ionic ch arg e
ionic radius
ionic ch arg e
(ionic radius) 2

(c)

(ionic radius) 2
ionic ch arg e

(d)

(ionic ch arg e) 2
ionic radius

72. The solubility of hydroxides of group 2

increases from Mg(OH)2 to Ba(OH)2 due to
(a) increase in lattice energy
(b) decrease in lattice energy
(c) increase in I.E.
(d) increase in thermal stability
73. Alkaline earth metals have standard
electrode potential values very similar to
there of alkali
(a) high lattice energy of M2+ ions in the
solid salts
(b) high hydration energies of M2+ ions in
solution
(c) dimagnetic nature
(d) none of these of M2+ ions
74. Be show a diagonal resemblance with Al.
due to
(a) similar ionic radii
(b) similar polarizing power
(c) similar boiling points
(d) all of these
75. The gem stone emald has the same formula
as
(a) beryl ore
(b) lipodolite ore
(c) monazite sand
(d) phenacite
76. Which metal of group 2 has & b.p., and
larger1st and 2nd I.E.?
(a) Be
(b) Mg
(c) Ca
(d) Ba

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77, Be-compounds are covalent due to

(a) high E.N. value
(b) small ionic radius
(c) high hydration energy of Be2+ ions
(d) small highly charged ion
78. which one of the follwoing has 4 : 4 Zinc
blende structure ?
(a) BeO
(b) CaO
(c) SrO
(d) BaO
79. BeSO4 and HgSO4 are more soluble in
water than CaSO4, SrSO4, BaSO4. it is due
to
(a) high ionic charge on Be2+ and Mg2+
(b) high heat of hydrations of Be2+ and
Mg2+
(c) high covalent nature of Be2+ and Mg2+
(d) high lattice energies of Be2+ and Mg2+ in
the solid salts
80. Which of the following ha greater tendency
for complex formation ?
(a) Be
(b) Mg
(c) Ca
(d) Ba

(b) Na+ ions are actively expelled from cells

whereas K+ are not
(c) K ions inside the cell are essential for
metabolism of glucose, synthesis of
proteins and
enzymes
(d) The ion transport is active expulsion of
K+ and active take-up of Na+
82. Which is false statement ?
(a) Mg2+ is important in chlorophy 11
(b) Ca2+ is important in bones of teeth
(c) Ca2+ ions are important in blood clotting
(d) Mg2+ ions are concentrated in the bodhy
fluids outside the cell and Ca2+ ions are
concentrated in animals cells
83. Which is a false statement ?
(a) Be-salt are sweet toxic
(b) In Chlorophyll, four N-atoms form
porphyrin ring system are co-ordinated
to Mg(II)
(c) Ca2+ and Mg2+ in hard water estimated
by titration with E.D.T.A.
(d) (BeF4)2 readily co-ordinates two extra F
ions to form (BeF6)4

81. Which is a false statement ?

(a) Na and K are Chemically similar but
their biological function are different

QUEST TUTORIALS
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