Learning objectives

As shown in the periodic table Group 1, 2 and  elements are all metals with the exception of boron. 

1	2
							1H										2He
3 Li	4 Be											5 B	6 C	7 N	8 O	9 F	10 Ne
11 Na	12 Mg											13 Al	14 Si	15 P	16 S	17 Cl	18 Ar
19 K	20 Ca	21 Sc	22 Ti	23 V	24 Cr	25 Mn	26 Fe	27 Co	28 Ni	29 Cu	30 Zn	31 Ga	32 Ge	33 As	34 Se	35 Br	36 Kr
37 Rb	38 Sr	39 Y	40 Zr	41 Nb	42 Mo	43 Tc	44 Ru	45 Rh	46 Pd	47 Ag	48 Cd	49 In	50 Sn	51 Sb	52 Te	53 I	54 Xe
55 Cs	56 Ba	71 Lu	72 Hf	73 Ta	74 W	75 Re	76 Os	77 Ir	78 Pt	79 Au	80 Hg	81 Tl	82 Pb	83 Bi	84 Po	85 At

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However, the properties of the compounds of beryllium (Be) and the Group metals reflects the trend toward increasing non-metallic character proceeding across a period in the periodic table.  In contrast to the Group 1 and other Group 2 metals, these metals may have amphoteric oxides and may exist in aqueous solution both as cations and hydroxoanions. 

On completion of the module, for Group 1, 2 and elements, on the basis of the position of the elemnt in the periodic table, you should be able
 

• to identify whether oxide/hydroxide of a given element is only basic, only acidic or amphoteric.
   
• to identify whether the specified element exists in water only as cations, only as hydroxoanions or as both cations and hydroxoanions
   
• to identify the physical state at room temperature of the chloride containing the element in its common oxidation state(s)
   
• to identify whether the hydrated cation of a specified metal is a weak acid