Chemistry of Group 2 Elements - Diagonal relationship between Be & Al Group 2 elements are known as alkaline earth metals. They include beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra). Group 2 elements have similar properties due to their electronic configurations. Beryllium and aluminum (Al) exhibit a diagonal relationship due to their similarities in properties. Diagonal relationships occur when elements in a diagonal pattern in the periodic table show similarities. Properties of Beryllium (Be): Atomic number: 4 Electronic configuration: 1s² 2s² Be is a silver-gray metal. It has a high melting point and boiling point. Be is a good conductor of heat and electricity.
Properties of Aluminum (Al): Atomic number: 13 Electronic configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p¹ Al is a silver-white metal. It has a lower melting point and boiling point compared to Be. Al is a good conductor of electricity but a poor conductor of heat. Diagonal Relationship between Be and Al: Beryllium and aluminum exhibit similarities in their properties, leading to a diagonal relationship. Be and Al have similar atomic radii. Both elements have high electronegativity values. The oxides of Be and Al are amphoteric, meaning they can act as both acids and bases. Be(OH)₂ and Al(OH)₃ are weak bases. Both Be and Al form stable hydrides: BeH₂ and AlH₃. Comparison of Beryllium and Aluminum: Beryllium (Be): Has a higher ionization energy compared to aluminum. Forms beryllium oxide (BeO), which is amphoteric and used in ceramics. Forms Be₂C, a covalent compound. Beryllium compounds are highly toxic. Aluminum (Al): Has a lower ionization energy compared to beryllium. Forms aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), which is amphoteric and used in glass manufacturing. Forms Al₄C₃, an ionic compound. Aluminum compounds are less toxic compared to beryllium compounds. Similarities in Compounds of Be and Al: Both Be and Al form oxides that are amphoteric. BeO and Al₂O₃ react with acids and bases. Both oxides are used in various applications. BeO is used in ceramics, while Al₂O₃ is used in glass manufacturing.
Differences in Compounds of Be and Al: Be forms covalent compounds, while Al forms ionic compounds. Beryllium compounds are highly toxic, while aluminum compounds are less toxic. BeO is more stable than Al₂O₃. Al₂O₃ has a higher melting point than BeO. Similarities in Hydrides of Be and Al: Both Be and Al form stable hydrides. BeH₂ and AlH₃ have similar structures. Both hydrides act as Lewis acids.
Differences in Hydrides of Be and Al: BeH₂ is a covalent compound, while AlH₃ is an ionic hydride. BeH₂ is a non-polar molecule, while AlH₃ is a polar molecule. BeH₂ has a higher boiling point than AlH₃. AlH₃ is more reactive than BeH₂. Applications of Beryllium: Beryllium is used in the aerospace industry. It is used for making lightweight alloys. BeCu alloy is used for making springs in electrical connectors. Beryllium is used in X-ray windows and nuclear reactors.
Applications of Aluminum: Aluminum is widely used in various industries. It is used for making aluminum foil, cans, and packaging materials. Alloys of aluminum are used in the automotive and aerospace industries. Aluminum is used in electrical wiring and construction materials. Summary: Beryllium and aluminum exhibit a diagonal relationship due to similarities in their properties. Both elements have similar atomic radii and electronegativity values. Be and Al form amphoteric oxides and stable hydrides. Beryllium compounds are highly toxic, while aluminum compounds are less toxic. BeO is more stable than Al₂O₃, and BeH₂ is a covalent compound while AlH₃ is an ionic hydride. Applications of beryllium include aerospace industry, lightweight alloys, and X-ray windows. Applications of aluminum include aluminum foil, cans, electrical wiring, and construction materials.