Introduction

Metals

Metals are described as chemical elements that readily lose valence electrons to

form positive ions (cations). 
Examples: Aluminium, copper, iron, tin, gold.
Around 90 of the total 118 elements are metals.

Physical Properties
Physical Properties of Nonmetals

Occur as solids, liquids, and gases at room temperature

Brittle
Non-malleable
Non-ductile
Non-sonorous
Bad conductors of heat and electricity

Exceptions in Physical Properties

 Alkali metals (Na, K, Li) can be cut using a knife.

Mercury is a liquid metal.
Lead and mercury are poor conductors of heat.
Mercury expands significantly for the slightest change in temperature.
Gallium and cesium have a very low melting point
Iodine is non-metal but it has lustre.
Graphite conducts electricity.
Diamond conducts heat and has a very high melting point.

Physical Properties of Metals

● Hard and have a high tensile strength

● Solids at room temperature, except mercury, which is liquid at room temperature.
● Sonorous
● Good conductors of heat and electricity
● Malleable, i.e., can be beaten into thin sheets
● Ductile, i.e., can be drawn into thin wires
● High melting and boiling points (except Cesium (Cs) and Gallium (Ga))
● Dense, (except alkali metals). Osmium - highest density and lithium - least density
● Lustrous
● Silver-grey in colour, (except gold and copper)

Non-Metals

Nonmetals are those elements which do not exhibit the properties of metals.
Examples: Carbon, Boron etc.

Chemical Properties of Metals

● Alkali metals (Li, Na, K, etc) react vigorously with water and oxygen or air.
● Mg reacts with hot water.
● Al, Fe, and Zn react with steam.
● Cu, Ag, Pt, Au do not react with water or dilute acids.

Chemical Properties
Displacement Reactions

A more reactive element displaces a less reactive element from its compound or solution.
i) Zn(s) + CuSO (aq) → ZnSO (aq) + Cu(s)
4 4

ii) 2Al(s) + F e O (molten) → Al O (s) + 2F e(molten)

2 3 2 3

Metals Reaction with Oxygen (Burnt in Air)

Metal + Oxygen  →  Metal oxide (basic)

● Na and K are kept immersed in kerosene oil as they react vigorously with air and catch fire.
  4K(s) + O (g) → 2K O(s) (vigorous reaction)
2 2

● Mg, Al, Zn, Pb react slowly with air and form a protective layer that prevents corrosion.
   2M g(s) + O (g) → 2M gO(s) (Mg burns with a white dazzling light)
2

   4Al(s) + 3O (g) → 2Al O (s)

2 2 3

● Silver, platinum, and gold don't burn or react with air.

Basic Oxides of Metals

Some metallic oxides get dissolved in water and form alkalis. Their aqueous solution turns red
litmus blue.

 N a O(s) + H O(l) → 2N aOH (aq)

2 2

 K O(s) + H O(l) → 2KOH (aq)

2 2
Amphoteric Oxides of Metals

Amphoteric oxides are metal oxides which react with both acids as well as bases to form salt
and water.
For example - Al O , ZnO, P bO, SnO
2 3

 Al O (s) + 6H Cl(aq) → 2AlCl (aq) + 3H O(l)

2 3 3 2

Al2 O3 (s) + 2N aOH (aq) → 2N aAlO2 (aq) + H2 O(l)

ZnO(s) + 2H Cl(aq) → ZnCl2 (aq) + H2 O(l)

ZnO(s) + 2N aOH (aq) → N a2 ZnO2 (aq) + H2 O(l)

Reactivity Series

The below table illustrates the reactivity of metals from high order to low order.  

Symbol               Element
K Potassium ( Highly Active Metal)
Ba Barium
Ca Calcium
Na Sodium
Mg Magnesium
Al Aluminium
Zn Zinc
Fe Iron
Ni Nickel
Sn Tin
Pb Lead
H Hydrogen
Cu Copper
Hg Mercury
Ag Silver
Au Gold
Pt Platinum

Reaction of Metals with Water/Steam

 M etal + W ater → M etal hydroxide or M etal oxide + H ydrogen

 2N a + 2H O(cold) → 2N aOH + H

2 2 + heat

 Ca + 2H O(cold) → Ca(OH ) + H

2 2 2
 M g + 2H O(hot) → M g(OH ) + H
2 2 2

 2Al + 3H O(steam) → Al O + 3H
2 2 3 2

 Zn + H O(steam) → ZnO + H

2 2

Reaction of different metals with water

Reaction of Metals with Acid

Metals which are reactive than hydrogen displace hydrogen from its dilute acids
and produce respective metal salts and hydrogen gas.
Example: M etal + dilute acid → Salt + H ydrogen gas
2N a(s) + 2H Cl(dilute) → 2N aCl(aq) + H2 (g)

2K(s) + H2 SO4 (dilute) → K2 SO4 (aq) + H2 (g)

Metals which are less reactive than hydrogen cannot displace hydrogen from its acids and
hence no reaction takes place.

How Do Metals React with Solution of Other Metal Salts

High reactive metal displaces the low reactive metal from its salt solution. 

  M etal A + Salt of  metal B → Salt of  metal A + M etal B

  F e(s) + CuSO 4 (aq) → F eSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)

Reaction of Metals with Bases