Group 2: Alkaline earth metals
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Is there any difference in the solubility of a group 2 metal hydroxide produced from reacting a group 2 oxide with water, compared with a group 2 metal hydroxide formed from a reaction of the metal on its own with water?
Igloo writes ...
Metallic calcium, strontium and barium react with cold water to form the metal hydroxides, whereas magnesium reacts to form the oxide. However, the magnesium oxide formed reacts slightly with excess water to form magnesium hydroxide, setting up an equilibrium in the process.
The solid oxides of calcium, strontium and barium react with water to form the metal hydroxides.
Whether the hydroxide has been formed from the metal or its oxide, the same substance has been formed in each case, so the answer to your question is “no” - there is no difference in the solubility of these compound when formed in different ways.
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updated: 07 January 2004
