Chemical Reactions of Period III Elements
Chemical Reactions of Period III Elements
The table below summarises the most common oxides and chlorides of Period 3 elements.
| Element | Oxide | Chloride |
|---|---|---|
| Na | Na2O | NaCl |
| Mg | MgO | MgCl2 |
| Al | Al2O3 | AlCl3 |
| Si | SiO2 | SiCl4 |
| P | P2O5 | PCl3 |
| S | SO2 | SCl2 |
| Cl | Cl2O | Cl2 |
Oxides
Most metallic elements, both metals and non-metals, combine directly with oxygen. Metallic elements form ionic oxides whilst non-metallic elements form covalently bonded oxides.
For example:
2Mg(s) + O2(g) → 2MgO(s)
Chlorides
There are a number of methods for preparing chlorides. The direct preparation can be used although the reaction can be vigorous.
For example:
2Al(s) + 3Cl2(g) → 2AlCl3(s)