CHAPTER 4 : REACTIVITY OF METALS

4.1 VARIETY OF MINERALS

Various Forms of Minerals in the Earth Crust.

1. Minerals are solid ………………….. or …………………….. present ……………………….. in the forms

of ……………………………… or ……………………………………….

2. Various minerals are contained in …………. found in the Earth’s …………………………...

3. Mineralogy or the study of …………………………. is an active field of science because the number and
properties of minerals keep ……………………………...

4. Non-reactive minerals : do not react chemically with other elements (chemically stable)
- remains as natural elements

5. Reactive metals : reactive elements react with other elements (to become chemically stable)
- form natural compounds

6. The characteristics of minerals :

a) Hardness : very hard – suitable to be used as knife-sharpening tools
soft minerals – can be cut by small knife
b) solubility in water : - some minerals are soluble in water ; some are insoluble
c) Heat : - does not affect metal oxide minerals
- metal carbonate minerals and sulphides breaks down when heated strongly.
 MINERALS

exists in the form of

NATURAL ELEMENTS NATURAL COMPOUNDS

Examples : Examples :

1………………………………………… 1…………………………………………

2………………………………………… 2…………………………………………

3. ……………………………………….. 3. ………………………………………..

4. ……………………………………….. 4…………………………………………..

Arrangement of particles in Arrangement of particles in

gold – one type of atom only bauxite – two types of atoms
(Aurum) (aluminium and oxygen)

Natural compounds and their elements

Common name Scientific name Combination of elements
Hematite (iron ore)
Cassiterite (tin ore)
Quartz
Bauxite (aluminium ore)
Galena (lead ore)
Pyrite (iron ore)
Calcite
Malachite (copper ore) Copper carbonate Copper, carbon and oxygen
Marble (limestone) Calcium carbonate Calcium, carbon and oxygen
Calcium silicate Calcium silicate Calcium, silicon, oxygen
China clay (kaolin) Aluminium silicate Aluminium, silicon, oxygen
Natural Compounds are the Combination of Several Elements

Natural minerals Physical Chemical Uses in daily life

characteristics Characteristics
 Asbestos High melting point, Inert to chemicals Make firefighter suits
low thermal conductivity
Kaolin Soft, heat resistant, Inert from acids Used as tooth crowns,
(Aluminium contains water and chemicals make ceramic items
silicate)
Magnesium White, odourless, Low solubility in A powder used as hand dryer
carbonate tasteless water by weightlifters,
rock climbers and gymnasts
Silicates Electrical resistance Stable, Productions of electronic
between conductors, Insoluble in water chips
high melting point
Silicon dioxide High melting point Inert against Make glassware items
(sand) chemicals
Aluminium oxide High hardness level Make sandpaper