METALS.

Describe the physical and chemical properties of metals.

Property Metals Non-metals

State at room Solid (except mercury) Solid, liquid or gas
temperature
Appearance of solid Shiny Dull
Sound when struck Sonorous (make a sound Not sonorous (Do not
when struck) make a sound when
struck
‘Bendability’ of solid Malleable (can be Not malleable, not
hammered) and ductile Ductile. They are brittle.
(can be drawn out)
Density Generally high Generally low
Melting and boiling Generally high Generally low
points
Electrical and thermal Good Poor (except graphite)
conducitivity
* Ions formed Cations (positive ions) Anions (negative ions)
* Oxidising and Reducing agent Oxidising agent
reducing agent
* Nature of oxide Basic or amphoteric Acidic or neutral
* Chemical properties.
TABLE 1.
Physical and chemical properties of metals and non-metals.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF METALS.

Metal Reaction with air or Reaction with water Reaction with

oxygen or steam dilute HCl or H2SO4
K Burn very easily .React with with cold Violent reaction
forming the oxide. water to form the forming salt and
e.g. hydroxide and hydrogen. hydrogen
Na 2 Mg(s) + O2(g) 2MgO(s) e.g.
2 Na (s) + 2 H2O (l)
Ca 2 NaOH (aq) + H2 (g) Vigorous reaction
forming salt and
Mg hydrogen

React with steam React forming salt and

Al
forming the oxide and hydrogen.
Burn (especially if powdered)
hydrogen. e.g.
Zn to form the oxide.
e.g. Fe (s) + 2 HCl (aq)
Zn (s) + H2O (g) FeCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)
ZnO (s) + H2 (g)
Fe

Pb Do not burn, form oxide

when heated strongly. No reaction. No reaction.
Cu
No reaction.
Ag

TABLE 2.
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Describe the reactions of metallic oxides, hydroxides, nitrates and carbonates.

Metal Metal nitrate Metal carbonate Metal hydroxide

Decomposes to form the
K metal nitrite and oxygen. Stable, not decomposed Stable, not
e.g. by heat. decomposed by heat.
2 NaNO3(s)
Na 2NaNO2 (s) + O2 (g)

Ca

Mg Decomposes to form the Decomposes to form Decomposes to form

Metal oxide, nitrogen the metal oxide and the metal oxide and
dioxide and oxygen. Ease of carbon dioxide. The water (as steam). The
Al Decomposition increases ease of decomposition ease of
down the series. increases down the decomposition
Zn e.g. series. increases down the
2Pb(NO3)2 (s) e.g. series.
2PbO(s) + 4NO2(g)+ O2(g) CaCO3(s)
Fe e.g.
CaO(s) + CO2(g) Zn(OH)2(s)
ZnO (s) + H2O (g)
Pb

Cu

Ag Decomposes to form the Unstable.

No hydroxide exists.
metal, nitrogen dioxide and
oxygen.
2AgNO3(s)
2Ag(s) + 2NO2(g)+ O2(g)

TABLE 3.
Stability of metal compounds when heated.

Reaction of metal compounds with dilute acid.

Metal nitrates do not react with dilute acids.

Metal carbonates react with dilute acids to from the salt, carbon dioxide and water.
e.g.
CaCO3(s) + 2 HCl (aq) CaCl2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O (l)

Metal hydroxides react with dilute acids tom form the salt and water.
e.g.
NaOH (aq) + HCl (aq) NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)

Relate the principles underlying the extraction of a metal to its position in the
electrochemical series.

When metals are placed in the order of their reactivities the list formed is called the
Reactivity Series (Electrochemical Series). The order of the reactivities of the common
metals is shown below.

K Na Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Pb (H) Cu Hg Ag Au
Most Least
Reactive Reactive
Order of reactivity decreasing
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The Reactivity Series can be used to:

 Indicate the reactivity of the metal – the metals high in the series are more reactive
than those lower down.
 Predict displacement reactions between metals and their salts – metals higher up in the
series will displace those lower down.
e.g.
Cu (s) + 2 AgNO3 Cu(NO3)2 + 2 Ag (s)

 Predict the stability of the salt to heat – salts higher up tend to form salts that are more
stable to heat than those lower down.

 Determine the most suitable method of extraction of the metal from its ore – the
method used is guided by the position of the metal in the series.

Na Metals high up in the series are strongly bonded within their

Mg compounds. Electrolysis is the only method strong enough to
Al extract these metals.

Zn Metals in the middle of the series are less strongly bonded in

Fe their compounds. The oxides of these metals can be reduced
Sn to the metal using carbon.

Cu Metals at the bottom of the series can be found in uncombined

Ag in nature. They need only to be mined and then purified. If the
Au metal does have an ore (Copper sulphide) the metal can be
obtained by heating the ore strongly.

EXTRACTION OF IRON – THE BLAST FURNACE.

Iron is extracted from its ore, iron (iii) oxide using carbon. The main stages are as follows:

1. Dried heated ore, limestone (CaCO3) and coke (carbon), are fed into the top of the
furnace. (Limestone is added to remove sandy impurities which are mainly silicon
dioxide).
2. Hot air is blown into the furnace near the bottom. The coke burns in the hot air,
producing CO2 and a great deal of heat.

C (s) + O2 (g) CO2 (g)

Carbon dioxide rises up the furnace.

3. The carbon dioxide is reduced by more carbon to form carbon monoxide.

CO2 (g) + C (s) 2 CO (g)

4. The carbon monoxide reduces the hot iron ore to molten iron which runs to
the bottom of the furnace.

Fe2O3 (s) + 3 CO (g) 2 Fe (l) + 3 CO2 (g)

At the same time, the CaCO3 decomposes to form CaO that reacts with
impurities (SiO2) to form slag which is collected at the bottom of the furnace.
CaCO3 (s) CaO (s) + CO2 (g)

CaO (s) + SiO2 (s) CaSiO3 (l)

Slag
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The liquid iron falls to the bottom of the furnace and slag, which is less dense, floats on top of
it. The iron obtained is not pure and is called ‘pig iron’ and is too hard and brittle to be
worked and so must be converted to the more useful alloys.

Figure 1
EXTRACTION OF ALUMINIUM - ELECTROLYSIS OF Al2O3.

Aluminium is extracted from its ore bauxite (Al2O3) by the process of electrolysis. The ore
has a high melting point ( over 2000 oC ) and so cryolite (sodium aluminium fluoride) is
added to reduce the melting point of the ore (to about 950 oC).

Molten electrolyte
Al2O3 + Na3AlF6

Figure 2
The cathode reaction:
Al 3+ (l) + 3 e- Al (l)
The anode reaction:
2 O2- (l) - 4 e- O2 (g)
 Oxygen reacts with carbon at high temperatures and so the graphite anode gradually
wears away and must be replaced after some time.
 The exhaust gases contain gaseous and solid fluorides. Most is removed and
recycled but some escapes into the atmosphere and pollutes the environment.
Fluorides seem to affect trees which are a great distance away and any that land on
the grass and enter the food chain, affect the teeth and bones of grazing animals.

4
 Smelters should be away from agricultural areas and measures should be put in place to
reduce the fluoride content in the waste gases.

Explain why metal alloys are often used in place of the metals.

An alloy can be defined as a substance formed when a metal is mixed with other metals
and/or non-metals. Many pure metals tend to be soft, have a low tensile strength, high
melting points and corrode easily. Alloying has the effect of:
 Lowering the melting point so the material can be easily worked.
 Increasing the resistance to corrosion
 Decreasing the malleability and ductility and so increasing the strength, hardness and
toughness of the metal.

Relate the properties of the metals (Al, Pb, Fe) and their alloys to their uses.

Metal Special Properties Uses

Making soft drink cans, electrical
Aluminium Low density, corrosion cables, cooking pots, alloys for
resistant aircraft bodies

Making lead-acid batteries, bullets,

Lead Soft, heavy metal weights, solder, pewter and
radiation shields

Making motor car bodies, bridges

Iron Strong, cheap, rusts easily and in the building industry, made
into special steels

TABLE 4

Alloy Components Uses

Brass Copper & Zinc Making locks, pins of power plugs,

medals and musical instruments

Bronze Copper & Tin Making bells, swords, ship propellers,

medals and plaques

Magnalium Magnesium & Making metal mesh for windows,

Aluminium frames of racing bikes, metal mirrors
and scientific instruments

Duralumin Aluminium, Copper Making airplane bodies, motorcar

& Magnesium engines and alloy wheels for motorcars

Solder Lead & Tin Making electrical connections (joining

pieces of metal/wires together)

TABLE 5

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Describe the conditions necessary for the corrosion of metals.

Conditions necessary for rusting:

 Water
 Air

Experiment to determine the conditions necessary for rusting.

Figure 3

Rust is formed when the exposed metal reacts with oxygen, in the presence of water to form
the hydrated metal oxide. Iron rust consists of the hydrated iron (III) oxide and this is seen on
the surface of iron which has been exposed to water and air.

Fe (s) – 2e – Fe 2+ (s) (Oxidation process)

Fe 2+ (s) + 2 OH – (aq) Fe(OH)2 (s)
Fe(OH)2 (s) + O2 (g) Fe2O3.xH2O (s) (Fe 2+ is further oxidised to Fe 3+ )

The red-brown flakes of the hydrated iron (III) oxide can be easily lifted off the iron surface,
exposing fresh iron. As such the iron continues to rust causing a loss of iron in the original
object.
In the case of aluminium, the oxide formed when aluminium is exposed to air and water,
sticks to the surface of the aluminium object, thereby protecting the underlying aluminium
from further rusting.
This layer of aluminium oxide facilitates the application of dyes and paint to the surface of
aluminium objects making it suitable to be used in the packaging of snacks/food items etc
where colourful packaging is an asset.
Sometimes a layer of aluminium oxide is placed onto the surface of objects to protect them
from rusting or to apply paint or dyes. This process is called ANODISING. (Done when
doing electrolysis).

Explain the importance of metals and their compounds to living systems and the
environment.

Some metals are essential for the proper functioning of certain organisms. They are
sometimes required in only small quantities and are known as trace elements.

Trace elements Function

Copper Helps enzymes in respiration
Manganese Helps enzymes in respiration
Molybdenum Important for the growth of bone in bone development
Cobalt Helps in the formation of red blood cells
TABLE 6

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 Metal Function
Forms part of the structure of chlorophyll (needed for
Magnesium photosynthesis in plants); part of bone and teeth
structure
Forms part of the structure of haemoglobin, compound
Iron Found in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the
body

Calcium Needed for the formation of bones and teeth in animals

and for the formation of cell walls in plants

Sodium Helps in the transmission of nerve impulses in the nervous

system

Potassium Helps in the transmission of nerve impulses in the nervous

system
TABLE 7

Toxic metals:
 Mercury – from the burning of fossil fuels, dental fillings, large (deep sea) fish e.g.
tuna, manufacture of chlorine and cement, water paints, pesticides, fungicides – causes
nervousness, irritability, muscle tremors, kidney damage can lead to death.
 Lead – from cigarettes, solder, burning of leaded fuels, paints crayons, car batteries –
causes mental confusion, visual impairment, nausea, vomiting, anaemia brain damage
and can lead to death.
 Aluminium – from deodorants, cooking utensils, soft drink cans – causes abnormal
heart rhythms, bone disorders, anaemia, kills liver cells.
 Zinc – from contaminated water and soil, paints, dyes, ointments - causes intestinal
distress, low blood pressure, jaundice, joint pains, seizures