CHAPTER NUMBER 08

CHEMICAL REACTIVITY
SLO NUMBER 8.1: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN METAL & NON-METAL
SLO 8.1.1: Differentiate between metals & non- metals based on physical and chemical properties.
ON THE BASIS OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

METALS NON METALS

They have high melting and boiling point.
They possess metallic luster can be polished.
They are malleable, ductile, and give of tone when hit.
They are god conductor of heat and electricity.
They have high densities.
They are hard in nature except mercury.
They have low melting and boiling points.
They are not shiny, and dull except iodine.
They are brittle and can be break easily.
They are bad conductor of heat and electricity.
They have low densities.
They are generally soft in nature.

ON THE BASIS OF CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:

METALS NON METALS

They easily lose electron and form positive ion.
Na --------> Na+ + e-
They readily react with oxygen to form basic oxides.
2Mg + O2 -------> 2 MgO
When dissolved in water form alkaline solution.
2K + 2H2O --------> 2KOH + H2
They usually form ionic compounds with non-metals
They readily accept electron to complete their
valence shells.
Cl + e-------> Cl-
They readily react with oxygen to form acidic
oxides.
S + O2 -------> SO2
They form ionic compounds with metals and
covalent compound with other non-metals.
SO3 + H2O --------> H2SO4
They form ionic compounds with metals and
covalent compound with other non-metals

SLO NUMBER 8.2: METAL

SLO 8.2.1: Identify elements as an alkali metals or an alkaline earth metal.
ALKALI METALS: Lithium (Li), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Rubidium (Rb), Caesium (Cs), Francium (Fr).
ALKALINE EARTH METALS: Beryllium (Be), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Strontium (Sr), Barium (Ba),
Radium (Ra).
SLO 8.2.2: Explain why alkali metals are not found in Free State in nature.
Alkali metals are the first group in the periodic table. They are never found in nature uncombined because
they are unstable and they react fast to other elements. They bond well with all elements except the noble
gases. The alkali earth metals are also called s- block elements because these elements have one electron
each in the valence s- subshell of their atoms i.e., they have ns1 configuration. The Alkali metals include
lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium. They are called alkali metals since they readily
dissolves in water to form soluble hydroxides, which are strongly alkaline in nature. Because they have only
one electron in valence subshell, therefore, they lose easily, owing to their low ionization energies. Therefore,
alkali metals are highly reactive chemically & don’t exist in free or native state & are not easily found in
nature.
SLO 8.2.3, 8.2.4: Describe the position of sodium, calcium, magnesium, in the periodic table along with its
physical, chemical properties and uses.
ON THE BASIS OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

PROPERTY SODIUM MAGNESIUM CALCIUM

Appearance Silvery white having a Silvery white and hard Silvery grey and fairly
metallic luster, very soft harder
Atomic size, Ionic 186, 102 160, 72 197, 99
Size
Relative Density, 0.98 gm cm-3, Floats on 1.74 gm cm-3 1.55 gm cm-3
water
Malleability Very malleable and ductile Malleable and ductile Malleable and ductile
Conductivity Good conductor of heat Good conductor of heat Good conductor of heat
and electricity and electricity and electricity
Melting Point 97 oC 650 oC 839 oC
Boiling Point 883 oC 1090 oC 1484 oC
Ionization Energy 496 kJ/mol 739, 1450 kJ/mol 590, 1145 kJ/mol
Flame in Air Golden Yellow Brilliant White Brick Red

ON THE BASIS OF CHEMICAL PROPERTIES:

PROPERTY SODIUM MAGNESIUM, CALCIUM

Occurrence They are reactive They are fairly reactive
Electro positivity They are highly electro positive because They are less electropositive because
they can donate its one valence electron they can donate can two valence
electron
Reaction with Sodium reacts with water vigorously at They reacts with water less vigorously
water room temperature to give alkaline and on heating produce weak bases.
solution and hydrogen gas. Mg + 2H2O -----> MgO + H2
2Na + 2H2O -----> 2NaOH + H2 MgO + H2 -----> Mg(OH)2
Reaction with O2 Sodium immediately tarnish in air giving They are less reactive towards oxygen
their oxides which form strong alkalis in and oxides are formed on heating.
water. 2Mg + O2 -----> 2MgO
4Na + O2 -----> 2Na2O
Na2O + H2O ------> 2NaOH
Reaction with H2 Sodium form ionic hydrides with H2 at They give hydrides under strong
high temperature. conditions of temperature and pressure.
2Na + H2 -----> 2NaH Ca + H2 -----> CaH2
 Reaction with They react violently with halogens at They react slowly with halogens to give
Halogens room temperature to give halides. their halides.
2Na + Cl2 ------> 2NaCl Ca + Cl2 ------> CaCl2
Reaction with They don’t form nitrides directly. They form stable nitrides when heated
Nitrogen with nitrogen.
3Mg + N2 ------> Mg3N2
Reaction with They don’t react with carbon directly. They give stable carbide on heating with
Carbon Carbon. Ca + 2C -----> CaC2
USES OF SODIUM:
1. Sodium-potassium alloy is used as a coolant in nuclear reactor.
2. Used to produce yellow light in sodium vapor lamps.
3. Used as reducing agent in extraction of metal like Ti.
USES OF MAGNESIUM:
1. Used in flash light bulbs and fire works
2. Used in the manufacture of light alloys.
3. Used as anode for prevention of corrosion.
USES OF CALCIUM:
1. Used to remove sulphur from petroleum products.
2. Used as reducing agent to produce Cr, U and Zr.
SLO 8.2.5: Explain the difference in ionization energies of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal.
Ionization energy which in turn depends upon size and nuclear charge of the atom. Small sized atoms with
high nuclear charge have high ionization energy value. In this way, atoms having high ionization energy are
less electropositive or metallic. That is the reason alkali metals have the largest size and the lowest ionization
energy in their respective periods. Therefore, they have the highest metallic character.
SLO 8.2.6: Differentiate between soft and hard metals. (Sodium and iron).
Sodium is an alkali metal and is very soft and can cut through knife while iron is a transition metal which is
very hard and requires great energy to break apart. Iron is hard, tough and strong compared with sodium
because of the strong metallic atom-atom bonding. The strong attractive force between the atoms is only
weakened at high temperatures; hence iron has the high melting points and boiling points. This strong
bonding between atoms holding them together in iron gives it high density. For example: iron has a density
of 7.9 g (cm) 3 and sodium has a density of 0.97 g (cm).
SLO 8.2.7: Describe inertness of Nobel metals.
INERTNESS OF NOBLE METALS:
The elements in which d-orbital are in the process of filling, constitute a group of metals called transition
metals or d-group elements. The noble metals are a group of metals that resist oxidation and corrosion in
moist air. The noble metals are not easily attacked by acids. They are the opposite of the base metals, which
more readily oxidize and corrode.
SLO 8.2.8: Identify the commercial Value of silver, gold, and platinum.
SILVER: Silver is white lustrous metal. It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is also highly
ductile and malleable metal. Its polished surfaces are good reflectors of light. It is widely used in making
coins, silver-ware and ornaments. Compounds of silver are widely used in photographic films and dental
preparations. Silver also has important applications in mirror industry.
GOLD: Gold is a yellow soft metal. It is most malleable and ductile of all the metals. Gold is very nonreactive
or inert metal. It is used as an ornamental metal as well as used in making coins. Gold is too soft to be used
as such. It is always alloyed with copper, silver or some other metal.
PLANITINUM: Platinum is used to make jewelry items because of its unique characteristics like color, beauty,
strength, flexibility and resistance to tarnish. It provides a secure setting for diamonds and other gemstones,
enhancing their brilliance. An alloy of platinum, palladium and rhodium is used as catalyst in automobiles as
catalytic converter.

SLO NUMBER 8.3: NON-METAL

SLO 8.3.1: Compile some important reactions of halogens with Group I and II elements.
OXIDIZING PROPERTIES:
All halogens are oxidizing agents. Fluorine is the strongest oxidizing element while iodine is the least i.e. is
mild oxidizing agent. Fluorine will oxidize any of halide ion (X–) in solution and changes itself to F– ion.
Similarly, chlorine will displace Br- and I- ion s from their salt solutions and oxidize them to bromine and
iodine.

REACTION WITH HYDROGEN:

All halogens (X2) combine with hydrogen to give hydrogen halides (HX). However the chemical affinity for
H2 decreases down the group from F2 to l2 .Fluorine combines with hydrogen even in the dark and cold state.
Chlorine reacts with hydrogen only in the presence of sunlight. Bromine and iodine react with hydrogen only
on heating.

REACTION WITH WATER:

Fluorine (F2) decomposes water in cold state and in dark. Chlorine decomposes water in presence of sunlight.
Bromine only react with water under special conditions. Iodine does not give this reaction.
REACTION WITH METHANE:
Fluorine (F2) reacts violently with methane (CH4) in dark, while chlorine (CI2) does not react with methane
in dark. However, the presence of bright sunlight the reaction is violent.

REACTION WITH SODIUM HYDROXIDE:

Chlorine reacts with cold dilute NaOH to give sodium hypochlorite and sodium chloride

SLO 8.3.2: Name some elements which are found in uncombined state in nature.
Gold, Silver, Platinum, Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, and Radon