I. Metals Combining with Nonmetals
Metal + Nonmetal →Salt* (Metal Ion++ Nonmetal Ion–)Reactions of Alkali Metals and Alkaline Earth Metals
Group IA Combining
Metal (M) Substance Reaction
All Hydrogen 2 M(s) + H 2 (g) →2 MH(s)
All Halogen 2 M(s) + X 2 →2 MX(s)
Li Nitrogen 6 Li(s) + N 2 (g) →2 Li 3 N(s)
All Sulfur 2 M(s) + S(s) →M 2 S(s)
Li Oxygen 4 Li(s) + O 2 (g) →2 Li 2 O(s)
Na Oxygen 2 Na(s) + O 2 (g) →Na 2 O 2 (s)**
Na, K, Rb, Cs Oxygen M(s) + O 2 (g) →MO 2 (s)
All Water 2 M(s) + H 2 O →2 M+(aq) +
2 OH–(aq) + H 2 (g)Group IIA Combining
Metal (M) Substance Reaction
Ca, Sr, Ba Hydrogen M(s) + H 2 (g) →MH 2 (s)
All Halogens M(s) + X 2 →MX 2 (s)
Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba Nitrogen 3 M(s) + N 2 (g) →M 3 N 2 (s)
Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba Sulfur M(s) + S(s) →MS(s)
Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba Oxygen 2 M(s) + O 2 (g) →2 MO(s)
Ba Oxygen Ba(s) + O 2 (g) →BaO 2 (s)
Ca, Sr, Ba Water M(s) + 2H 2 O →M2+(aq) +
2OH–(aq) + H 2 (g)
Mg Water Mg(s) + H 2 O(g) →MgO(s) + H 2 (g)
M = symbol for the metal, X = any halogen
*By definition, a salt is an ionic compound made up of a cation other than H+and an anion other than OH–or O2–. However, in these
examples a “salt” represents anyionic (metal-nonmetal) compound.
**Superoxides need special conditions.Part II: Specific Topics