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Period 3 Elements and Oxides

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Total cards: 23•Content version: v4•Public deck•Updated: 8/1/2026

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#1
Front (Question)

Explain why sodium is more reactive than magnesium

Back (Answer)

Sodium is in group 1 and magnesium is in group 2. When they react, Na loses 1 electron to form 1+ ion, whereas Mg loses 2 electrons to form 2+ ions. Na is more reactive than Mg as it takes less energy to lose one electron than to lose two. Therefore, more energy is needed for magnesium to react

#2
Front (Question)

Describe sodium reacting with cold water Product pH

Back (Answer)

Reacts vigorously with cold water, forming a molten ball on the surface, fizzing and producing H2 gas. This produces sodium hydroxide, which is a strongly alkaline solution. pH 12-14

#3
Front (Question)

Describe magnesium reacting with cold water Product and pH Why is the solution weakly alkaline?

Back (Answer)

Reacts very slowly with cold water. Forms a weak alkaline solution (pH 9-10) and a thin coating of magnesium hydroxide forms on the surface of the metal. Because magnesium hydroxide is not very soluble in water, so relatively few hydroxide ions are produced

#4
Front (Question)

Reaction of magnesium with steam

Back (Answer)

Mg reacts much faster with steam (ie when there’s more energy) to form magnesium oxide

#5
Front (Question)

Period 3 elements and reactivity with oxygen Describe

Back (Answer)

Most react readily with oxygen. Usually oxidised to their highest oxidation states- same as their group numbers

#6
Front (Question)

General Equation for Period 3 Elements reacting with oxygen

Back (Answer)

Element + Oxygen –> Oxide

#7
Front (Question)

Equations for reaction of following period 3 elements with oxygen: Sodium Magnesium Aluminium Silicon Phosphorous Sulfur

Back (Answer)

2Na + 1/2O2 –> Na2O. Mg + 1/2O2 –> MgO. 2Al + 1 1/2O2 –> Al2O3. Si + O2 –> SiO2. P4 + 5O2 –> P4O10. S + O2 –> SO2

#8
Front (Question)

Reaction of Sulfur Dioxide with Oxygen

Back (Answer)

Forms SO3. Vanadium catalyst needed

#9
Front (Question)

Reactivity with air of Period 3 Elements: Na Mg Al Si P S

Back (Answer)

Vigorous Vigorous Slow Slow Spontaneously combusts Burn steadily

#10
Front (Question)

Effect of bonding and structure on the melting point of Na2O , MgO and Al2O3

Back (Answer)

Metal oxides. High melting points as they form giant ionic lattices. Strong forces of attraction between each ion means it takes a lot of heat energy to break the bonds and melt them

#11
Front (Question)

Effect of bonding and structure on the melting point of MgO

Back (Answer)

Higher melting point than Na2O because Mg forms 2+ ions, so bonds more strongly than 1+ Na ions in Na2O

#12
Front (Question)

Effect of bonding and structure on the melting point of Al2O3

Back (Answer)

Lower melting point due to difference in electronegativity between Al and O isn’t as large as between Mg and O. Means that oxygen ions in Al2O3 don’t attract the electrons in the metal-oxygen bonds as strongly as in MgO. This makes bonds in Al2O3 partially covalent

#13
Front (Question)

Effect of bonding and structure on the melting point of SiO2

Back (Answer)

Higher melting point than the other non-metal oxides. Due to its macromolecular structure. Strong covalent bonds between atoms need to be broken, and this requires a lot of energy

#14
Front (Question)

Effect of bonding and structure on the melting point of P4O10 and SO2

Back (Answer)

Relatively low melting points because they form simple molecular structures. The molecules are bond by weak intermolecular forces (dipole-dipole and van der Waals) which take little energy to break

#15
Front (Question)

Describe ionic oxides

Back (Answer)

Alkaline

#16
Front (Question)

Describe covalent oxides

Back (Answer)

Acidic

#17
Front (Question)

Equations for the following oxides forming acids when reacted with water: P4O10 SO2 SO3

Back (Answer)

P4O10 + 6H2O –> 4H3PO4 SO2 + H2O –> H2SO3 SO3 + H2O –> H2SO4

#18
Front (Question)

Solubility of Silicon Dioxide Exception

Back (Answer)

Macromolecular structure makes it insoluble in water. Will react with bases to form salts so is classed as acidic

#19
Front (Question)

Solubility of Aluminium Oxide Classed as and why?

Back (Answer)

Insoluble in water (as it’s partially ionic and partially covalently bonded). Amphoteric as it will react with acids and bases to form salts

#20
Front (Question)

Equation for Neutralisation

Back (Answer)

Acid + Base –> Salt + Water

#21
Front (Question)

Equations of Basic Oxides neutralising acids: Na2O MgO

Back (Answer)

Na2O + 2HCl –> 2NaCl + H2O. MgO + H2SO4 –> MgSO4 + H2O

#22
Front (Question)

Equations of acidic oxides neutralising bases: SiO2 P4O10 SO2 SO3

Back (Answer)

SiO2 + 2NaOH –> Na2SiO3 + H2O. P4O10 + 12NaOH –> 4Na3PO4 + 6H2O. SO2 + 2NaOH –> Na2SO3 + H2O. SO3 + 2NaOH –> Na2SO4 + H2O

#23
Front (Question)

Equations for amphoteric oxides neutralising acids and bases (Al2O3)

Back (Answer)

Acid: Al2O3 + 3H2SO4 –> Al2(SO4)2 + 3H2O. Base: Al2O3 + 2NaOH + 3H2O –> 2NaAl(OH)4