How many of you saw my alkali metals in water videos? I imagine not many of you, as that was two years ago. Links will be in the description. Anyways, in this video I demonstrate the reaction of alkaline earth metals, the group 2 elements. The reactions with water are very similar to the group 1 elements, but far less vigorous or intense and the temperature of the water certainly is a much bigger deciding factor with these than with alkali metals. Hot water gets really nice reactions while cold water gets weaksauce reactions from all but barium, which is very sodium-like in how it reacts with water, creating the Tasmanian Devil effect in the water, with it looking surprisingly cool. The first two I used a multi-hour time lapse for (day 1 was dedicated to beryllium). The later elements put on a fine show. Although you can see strontium and barium had the best reaction out of the bunch, I think calcium put on the best show. What do you think?
The formula for reaction with water is the same as the group 1 elements.
Formula (with M to represent "alkaline earth metal")
M + H2O → MOH + 1/2H2
What's happening is that the alkaline earth metal separates hydrogen from oxygen and what's leftover is a hydroxide solution. You can plug in any of the metals, however with beryllium it's only in theory because it does not react at all with the water. Magnesium reacts ridiculously slowly. The fun ones of the list are calcium, strontium, barium, and radium. I was unable to acquire any radium for obvious reasons, but it's actually quite similar to barium. Compare and contrast this with the alkali metals videos. I did four different alkali metal experiments.
Note: (aq) indicates an aqueous solution where the metal oxide combines with water and gives off hydrogen gas.
Here are the links to them, please check them out to fully appreciate this.
Alkali metals in water:
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Alkali metals in an alcohol/water solution:
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Alkali metals on ice:
[ Ссылка ]
Alkali metals in cola:
[ Ссылка ]
Disclaimer: DO NOT handle beryllium or work with it unless you take any and all possible safety precautions. Berylliosis is no laughing matter, on average people who contract it will have only 1-29 years to live. It can be contracted by inhaling beryllium oxide particles. I made sure to wear a gas mask, gloves, goggles, never handle the beryllium directly, and disposed of it properly after. I used a different container as well to do the beryllium in. When I say "don't try this at home", I mean it.
If you're wondering what the sound of beryllium in water is, I'd say it was a "plip, plink" when it landed on the bottom of the glass.
#science #chemistry #alkalineearthmetals #interesting #satisfying
