METALS

Metals in the Periodic Table

 Mainly in Group I, Group II, and the Transition Block
 those near the staircase line

Properties
1. High density, melting point and boiling point

 due to close packing of the atoms in metals

 strong forces between these atoms
 high density except sodium
 high melting and boiling points except mercury and sodium

2. Malleable and ductile

 when a force is applied to a metal, the atoms can slide over one another
 malleable: can be bent and beaten into different shapes
 ductile: can be stretched to form wires

3. Thermal conductivity

 heat energy can be transferred from one atom to another by vibration as the atoms are very close
together
 the outermost electrons also help to conduct heat

4. Electrical conductivity

 when a metal is connected to a circuit, the free outermost electrons move towards the positive
terminal
 to replace them, more electrons are fed into the metal from the negative terminal

Metals always from positive ions

Extremes in Metals
Lightest: Lithium
Heaviest: Osmium
Most brittle: Manganese and chromium
Lowest melting point: Mercury
Highest melting point: Tungsten
Most expensive: Platinum
Rarest: Rhodium
Most abundant: Aluminium

Metallic properties
Metals have high:

- density: high mass per unit volume

- tensile strength: high strength of the metal under stress
- durability: resistant to corrosion
- malleability: ability to be made into sheets
- ductility: ability to be made into wires
- thermal conductivity: ability to conduct heat
- electrical conductivity: ability to conduct electricity
- sonority: ability to produce sound when struck

Alloys
 a mixture of metallic elements or metallic with non-metallic.
 Pure metals are weak as the layers of atoms slide over each other easily. in alloy of 2 metals,
they have different sizes of atoms so this distrupts the orderly layer of atoms making it difficult for
atoms to slide over.
 Eg of alloys
 Steel: iron and carbon
 bronze: copper and tin
 brass: copper and zinc
 duralumin: aluminium, copper, magnesium
 Uses of duralumin: it is light but strong and durable so used for aircraft parts,
greenhouse frames, overhead cables, curtain walling in high-rise buildings etc.
 pewter: tin and lead
 Uses of solder: mixture of tin and lead, has a much lower melting point than either of its
components so more easily fusible --- suitable for welding electrical wire together
 Uses of stainless steel: is an alloy of iron containing chromium or nickel. Is the most expensive
way
 applications for:
 cutleries
 medical instruments
 kitchen sinks
 steel objects in chemical factories and oil refineries
Reactivity series of metals

 Reactive metals tend to form positive ions easily, by losing electrons and forming compounds
 unreactive metals prefer to remain in uncombined form, as the element itself
 the order of reactivity is worked out from the metal's reaction (if any) with water or steam and
acids
 if there is a reaction, the metal displaces hydrogen
 Metal + hydrogen ion → metal ion + hydrogen gas

Metal Metal with water/steam Metal with acid

react with cold water

potassium violent reaction with dilute acids
M(s) + 2H2O(l) → MOH(aq) + H2(g)
sodium M(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Metal + Water → Metal Hydroxide +
calcium Metal + Acid → Metal Chloride + Hydrogen
Hydrogen

magnesium react with steam

react with dilute acids with decreasing ease
aluminium M(s) + 2H2O(g) → MO(s) + H2(g)
M(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MCl2(aq) + H2(g)
zinc Metal + Water → Metal Oxide +
Metal + Acid → Metal Chloride + Hydrogen
iron Hydrogen
lead
do not react with water or steam react with dilute acids with decreasing ease
hydrogen
copper
mercury
do not react with water or steam react only with concentrated acids
silver
platinum
 In the reactivity series, metals at the top, like potassium and sodium, react violently with cold
water. Hence, they are stored under the surface of oil to prevent water vapour in the atmosphere
from reacting with them
 eg. 2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2
 Down the series, the reactivity of the metal decreases.
 Magnesium will react only with steam, and for metals below iron there is no reaction with either
cold water or steam.
 eg. Mg + H2O → MgO + H2
 With dilute hydrochloric acid, the metals at the top of the series react very violently. As we go
down, the metals react less vigorously.
 Aluminium, although above iron and zinc, reacts more slowly because of a protective oxide coat
on its surface.
 eg. Fe + 2HCl → FeCl2 + H2
 Below lead, there is no reaction with steam or with dilute acids and so hydrogen is never
displaced. Hence its position in the series.
 The metals below hydrogen will react only with concentrated acids which are capable of oxidising
the metal first to its oxide. Such acids are concentrated nitric or sulphuric acids
 eg. Cu + 4HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO2 +2H2O