Question

Explain why can alkali and alkaline earth metals not be obtained by chemical reduction methods?

Answer 1

Hint: Reduction potential values of alkali and alkaline earth metals are high. So, they are very strong reducing agents. As a result other reducing agents cannot reduce the compounds of alkali and alkaline earth metals. This leads to no reduction of them.

Complete answer:
The alkali metals are never found free in nature in their elemental form as they are so reactive. Although some of their ores are abundant, their isolation from their ores is quite difficult. All alkali metals and alkaline earth metals have their outermost electron in an s-orbital, this electronic configuration results in their very similar characteristic properties. Their outermost s- orbital electron is responsible for their high reactivity, they must be stored under oil to prevent reaction with air and are found naturally only in salts and never as the free elements.
The alkali metals are six chemical elements in group 1 of the periodic table. They are lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), caesium (Cs) and francium (Fr).The alkaline earth metals are six chemical elements in group 2 of the periodic table. They are beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) and radium (Ra). The elements have very similar properties, they are all shiny, silvery-white, reactive metals at standard temperature and pressure.
Reduction potential values of these metals are so high, which makes them very strong reducing agents. As a result other reducing agents cannot reduce the compounds of alkali and alkaline earth metals. This leads to no reduction of them. That’s why they cannot be obtained by chemical reduction methods.

Note:
As the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals cannot be obtained by reduction methods because of their high reducing agent properties. That’s why for reduction of alkali and alkaline earth metals electrolytic reduction method is used.