METALS AND THEIR COMPOUNDS

Metals are elements whose atoms ionize by electron loss, while non-metals are elements
whose atoms ionize by electron gain. Metals are in groups 1, 2 and 3 of the periodic table. Their
valence electrons enter the s-and/or partially fill the p-orbitals.
Physical properties of metals
Metals are:
(1) Malleable
(2) Ductile
(3) Sonorous
(4) Hard but not brittle
(5) Good conductors of heat and electricity.
(6) Lustrous
They also have;
(7) Relatively high densities
(8) High melting and boiling points.
Some metals do not exhibit these properties. For instance;
(i) Mercury is a liquid with a melting point of – 390c.
(ii) Na and k are light soft metals with low melting points of 970c and 630c respectively.

Chemical properties of metals

Metals react when the ionize by loss of electron to form cations such as Na+, Ca2+ and Al3+;
hence they are reducing agents.

ACTIVITY SERIES: is the arrangement of elements in order of their reactivity. It starts with the
most reactive element and ends with the least reactive. The activity series of common metals
including hydrogen is as follows:
k - Most reactive (strongest reducing agent)
Na
Ca
Mg
Al
Zn
Fe
Sn
Ph
(H)
Cu
Hg

1
 Ag
pt
Au - least reactive (weakest reducing agent)

The activity series arranges the metals in the order of their ability to react and displace
the ions of one another from the solution of their salts. Generally, a metal higher up in the series
will displace the ions of metal lower in the series from the solutions of their salts. For instance:
Zinc metal will displace or replace ions of copper in a solution of a copper(II) salt i.e.

Zn(s) + CuSO4 (aq)  Cu(s) + ZnSO4(aq)

Reactions of Metals and their compounds

1. Reactions of metals with oxygen or air:

(i) k, Na, Ca burn vigorously in air to form oxides
4Na(s) + O2(g)  2Na2O(s)

(ii) Mg burns in air, when heated to produce the oxide and nitride:
(a) 2Mg(s) + O2(g)  2MgO(s)
(b) 3Mg(s) + N2 (g)  Mg3 N2 (s)

(iii) Al, Zn and Fe burn in air when strongly heated and finely divided e.g.
4Al(s) + 3O2 (g)  2Al2O3 (s)

(iv) Pb, Cu and Hg form oxides when strongly heated in air, but do not burn in air.
2Hg(s) + O2 (g)  2HgO(s)

(v) Ag, pt and Au do not burn or form oxides when heated in air.

2. Reaction with water:

(i) K and Na react vigorously with cold water to liberate hydrogen gas.
2Na(s) + 2H2O (s)  2NaOH(aq) + H2 (g)

(ii) Ca reacts moderately with water to liberate hydrogen.

Ca + 2H2O  Ca(OH)2 + H2 (g)

(iii) Mg, Al, Zn, Fe and Sn react with steam to liberate hydrogen.
Zn(s) + H2O(g)  ZnO(s) + H2 (g)

(iv) pb, Cu, Hg, Ag, pt and Au do not react with water or steam. This is because they
are below hydrogen in the activity series.

3. Reaction of metals with acids.

(i) k, Na, and Ca react explosively with dilute acids to liberate hydrogen gas.
e.g. Ca(s) + 2HCl(aq)  CaCl2 (aq) + H2 (q)

(ii) Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Sn and Pb displace hydrogen from strong acids with decreasing
reactivity.
Zn(s) + H2SO4 (aq)  ZnSO4(aq) + H2 (q)

2
 (iii) Cu, Hg, Ag, pt and Au do not displace hydrogen from dilute acids, since they are
below hydrogen in the reactivity series.

4. Reaction with chlorine: All metals react with chlorine to form the corresponding chloride
Mg(s) + Cl2 (q)  MgCl2 (s)

5. Reaction with aqueous solutions of other salts:

A metal higher up in the series will displace another metal lower in the series from the
aqueous solution of its salt.
e.g. Zn(s) + CuSO4 (aq)  ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu(s)

METHODS OF EXTRACTION OF METALS

The three reduction methods by which metals are extracted from their ores are;

(i) Electrolysis – for highly reactive metals like Na, k, Ca, Mg and Al.

(ii) Reduction by coke: for metals in the middle of the activity series e.g. Zn, Fe, Sn
and pb.

(iii) Thermal reduction (Roasting in air) – for metals lower down in the activity series
e.g. Cu, Hg and pb.

Gold (Au) is a unique metal, it is unreactive. It occurs naturally as a free metal.

ALKALI METALS

The alkali metals are the group I elements in the periodic table: Each element has only
one valence electron in the highest occupied orbital. The members include Li, Na, k, Ca and Fr.
Cs and Fr are not common.

NOTE: Hydrogen is not a group 1 element because it does not follow the inert gasses
directly on the periodic table.

Group 1 elements are usually stored under paraffin oil, air tight bottles or under any inert
liquid like kerosene and petroleum either. This is because they react readily with air and water.

SODIUM, Na

It occurs naturally as rocksalt, sodium chloride, which is highly soluble in water. It is extracted
by electrolytic method.

EXTRACTION OF SODIUM IN THE DOWN CELL

Fused sodium chloride is mixed with fused calcium chloride at 6000c. Fused calcium
chloride is added in order for the electrolytic process to be carried out at a much lower
temperature of 6000c than if pure sodium chloride, which melts at 7810c, were used.

In the Down cell, the cathode is made of steel while the anode is made of graphite. This
is because chlorine gas liberated at the anode will not attack graphite but will attack steel.
During the electrolysis, sodium metal is deposited at the cathode while chlorine is liberated at
the anode.

3
 Molten NaCl Cl2 gas

Molten Na

(+)
(– )

Molten NaCl

Steel gauze cylinder Graphite anode

(+)

THE DOWN CELL

Chemistry of the electrolysis

(i) Electrolyte ionizes: NaCl(l)  Na+(l) + Cl(l)

(ii) At the anode (+); chloride ions are oxidized to chlorine.

2Cl– (l)  Cl2 (g) + 2e–

(iii) At the cathode (– ): sodium ions are reduced to sodium.

2Na+(i) + 2e–  2Na(s)

Calcium metal is the major contaminant of molten sodium produced at the cathode, but it
is removed from the molten sodium by filtration (M.P of Ca is 9400c, while the M.p of Na is
980c).

Physical properties of Na

1. It is a silvery solid with metallic lustre.

2. Its density is 0.98 (it floats on water).

3. It is soft and can be cut with knife.

4. Its melting point is 970c (low for a metal).

5. It is a good conductor of electricity and heat.

Chemical properties

1. Reaction with air: Na tarnishes easily when exposed to air because it is oxidized
to sodium oxide
4 Na(s) + O2 (g)  2 Na2O(s)

4
 2. Reaction with water: Na reacts explosively with water to form sodium hydroxide
and hydrogen is liberated.
2 Na + 2 H2O  2 Na OH(aq) + H2 (g)

3. Reaction with acids: Na liberated hydrogen from dilute acids.

2 Na(s) + 2HCl(aq)  2NaCl + H2 (g)

4. Reaction with ammonia: Na reacts with ammonia to for sodamide and hydrogen.
2 Na (s) + 2NH3 (g)  2 NaNH2 (s) + H2 (g)

Test for Sodium ions

Flame test: Sodium compounds give a golden-yellow colour to a non-luminous flame.

USES OF Na

1. Liquid sodium is used as a coolant in nuclear reactors.

2. Sodium vapour lamps are used to lighting highways and air ports.

3. Sodium is used in the extraction of titanium.

4. Na is used in the production of lead(IV) tetraethyl which serves as antiknock agent

in petrol.

Assignment

Explain the solvay process

ALUMINIUM

The main ore of aluminium is bauxite. Others include: kaolin, cryolite, corundum and
mica.

Extraction of Al.

Two stages are involved which are;

(i) purification of bauxite and

(ii) electrolysis of alumina

(i) Purification of bauxite: The ore is purified as follows:

Bauxite is first roasted in air to make it anhydrous then, ground into powder. The
powdered bauxite is dissolved in hot concentrated NaOH(aq) under pressure to form soluble
sodium aluminate (III), NaAl(OH)4

Al2 O3 (s) + 2 NaOH(aq) + 3H2O (s)  2NaAl (OH)4 (aq)

The mixture is filtered to remove the insoluble trioxosilicate(iv) in purities. The filtrate
which contains Na Al(OH)4 (aq) is then seeded with Aluminium hydroxide crystals to induce the
precipitation of aluminium hydroxide.

Na Al(OH)4 (aq)  Al(OH)3 (s) + NaOH(aq)

5
The aluminium hydroxide precipitate is then filtered off, washed, dried and heated strongly to
yield pure aluminium oxide or alumina, Al2O3.

2 Al (OH)3 (s)  Al2 O3 (s) + 3 H2O(s)

2. Electrolysis of alumina: pure aluminium metal is produced by electrolysis of alumina

dissolved in molten cryolite at about 9500c. The cryolite serves as the solvent for the
alumina and helps to reduce the melting point from 20500c to 9500c.

The extraction is carried out in an electrolytic cell composed of a rectangular steel tank
lined with graphite (carbon) as the cathode, and graphite rods, which serve as the anode
dipping into the solution of alumina in molten cryolite as the electrolyte.

Aluminium in
Cryolite
Graphite Cathode
Steel Case

Molten Outlet
Aluminium

Chemistry of the process

Electrolyte Ionizes thus:

Al2O3(s)  2Al3+ (l) + 3O2– (s)

At anode (+); oxide ion is discharge to liberate oxygen gas.

602 – (l)  302 (g) + 12e –

At the cathode ( - ); Aluminium ion is discharged to deposit aluminium.

4 Al3+ + 12 e –  4 Al (s)

The molten aluminium is tapped at the bottom of the cell. The oxygen liberated at the
anode burn away the carbon anodes to produce CO. Hence, there is the need to replace
the graphite anodes regularly during the electrolytic process.