Question

The correct increasing order of basic nature among Be, Mg, Ca and Sr is :

• A. $Be<Ca<Mg<Sr$
• B. $Be<Mg<Sr<Ca$
• C. $Be<Mg<Ca<Sr$
• D. $Ca<Sr<Be<Mg$

Answer 1

The correct option is C $Be<Mg<Ca<Sr$

The correct increasing order of basic nature among Be, Mg, Ca and Sr is $Be<Mg<Ca<Sr$.

$Be$ forms amphoteric oxides and hydroxides, whereas other alkaline earth metals form basic oxides and hydroxides. The basicity increases on moving down the group due to increase in the size of the metal ion, decrease in the ionization energy and increase in the electropositive character. This increases the polarity of metal oxygen bond and internuclear distance which in turn increases the ease of formation of ion and the basic character.