Question

Explain the trends in the thermal stability of the oxosalts of alkali and alkaline earth metals

Answer 1

For Group 1 and Group 2 oxosalts the thermal stability increases down the group as the ionic radius of the cation increases, and its polarising power decreases.

Group 1 oxosalts tend to be more thermally stable than Group 2 oxasalts because the cation has a smaller charge and a larger ionic radius, and so a lower polarising power, particularly when adjacent metals on the same period are compared.