EXAM Q

• why does thermal stability increased down the group 2

  1. ionic radius increases down the group
  2. this means that the polarising power decreases down the group causing the group 2 metal to distort the electron cloud of the anion less.
  3. therefore as you go down the group there is a decrease in weakening the bonds
• explain why magnesium nitrate decomposes more readily on heating than potassium nitrate

  1. magnesium is more smaller and has a high charge
  2. magnesium has a high polarising power which means it can distort the electron cloud more than potassium
  3. therefore weakening the N-O bonds more