By : Mrs.
Sneha Hegde
3) Reactivity series of metals :-
The arranging of metals in the decreasing order of their
reactivity is called reactivity series of metals.
K - Potassium Most reactive
Na - Sodium
Ca - Calcium
Mg - Magnesium
Al - Aluminium
Zn - Zinc Reactivity decreases
Fe - Iron
Pb - Lead
H - Hydrogen
Cu - Copper
Hg - Mercury
Ag - Silver
Au - Gold Least reactive
4) How do metals an non metals react ?
Metals :- lose electrons and become positive ions. So they are
called electropositive elements.
Eg :- Sodium : Atomic number : 11 Electronic configuration :2,8,1
It has 1 valence electron. It loses 1 electron and forms a sodium ion Na+
Na Na + + 1 e-
2,8
[Link]. = 12 Mg Mg 2+ + 2 e-
EC = 2,8, 2 2,8
Non metals :- gain electrons and become negative ions. So they
are called electronegative elements.
Eg:- Chlorine : Atomic number : 17 Electronic configuration : 2,8,7
It has 7 valence electrons. It gains 1 electron and forms a chloride ion.
Cl + 1 e- Cl -
EC = 2,8,7 2,8,8
[Link]. = 8 O + 2e- O 2-
EC = 2,6 2,8
5a) Formation of sodium chloride molecule – NaCl
xx
+
xx
-
Na . +
x x
Cl x Na .x xClx xx NaCl
xx
AN = 11 AN = 17
EC = 2,8,1 EC = 2,8,7
The atomic number of Na is 11, its electronic
configuration is 2,8,1, it has 1 valence electron, it
loses 1 electron to form Na + ion. The atomic number
of Cl is 17, its electronic configuration is 2,8,7, it has
7 valence electrons, it gains 1 electron to form Cl -
ion. Then the attraction between the Na + ion and Cl -
ion results in the formation of sodium chloride
molecule – NaCl.
b) Formation of Magnesium chloride molecule – MgCl2
Mg Mg 2+ + 2e -
AN = 12
EC = 2,8,2 2,8
Cl + 1e - Cl -
AN = 17
EC = 2,8,7 2,8,8
xx xx
-
x
Cl xx . Cl
x x
Mg .
2+ x
xx
.+ x
xx
x
Mg
xx
xx
- MgCl2
Cl
xx
x . Cl
x
xx
x
x
The AN of Mg is 12, its EC is 2,8,2, it has 2 valence electrons, it loses 2
electrons to form Mg 2+ . The AN of Cl is 17, its EC is 2,8,7, it has 7 valence
electrons, it gains 1 electron to form Cl -. Then the attraction between Mg
2+ ion and 2 Cl - ions results in the formation of Magnesium chloride
molecule – MgCl2 .
6) Ionic compounds (Electrovalent compounds) :-
Ionic compounds are compounds formed by the transfer of electrons
from a metal to a non metal.
Properties of ionic compounds :-
i) They are formed by the transfer of electrons and are made up of
ions.
i) They are crystalline solids.
ii) They have high melting points and boiling points.
iii) They are soluble in water but insoluble in organic solvents (like
petrol, kerosene etc.)
iv) They conduct electricity in molten state or in solution.
7a) Occurence of metals :-
Some metals like gold, silver, platinum etc are found in the free state
in the earth’s crust because they are least reactive. Most metals are found
as oxides, carbonates, sulphides, halides etc.
Minerals :- elements or compounds which occur naturally inside
the earth’s crust.
Ore :- a mineral from which metals can be extracted profitably.
Gangue :- the impurities present in the ore like rock particles,
sand particles, clay particles etc.
b) Extraction of metals from their ores :-
Metals are extracted from their ores in three main steps. They are :-
i) Concentration of the ore (Enrichment of the ore).
ii) Reduction to the metal.
iii) Refining (Purification of the metal).
Concentration of the ore :- the removal of gangue (impurities)
from the ore by different methods.
8) Steps involved in the extraction of metals from their ores :-
Ore
Metals of Metals of Metals of
high reactivity medium reactivity low reactivity
Electrolysis of
molten ore Carbonate ore Sulphide ore Sulphide ore
Pure metal Calcination Roasting Roasting
Oxide of metal Metal
Reduction to metal Refining
Refining
i) Extraction of metals low in the activity series :-
Metals which are low in the activity series can be reduced
to the metals by heating in the presence of oxygen
(Roasting).
Eg :- Mercury is obtained from its ore Cinnabar (HgS) by
heating in the presence of oxygen. When it is heated in the
presence of oxygen it is first converted into mercuric oxide
(HgO) and on further heating it is reduced to mercury.
heat
2HgS(s) + 3O2 (g) 2HgO (s) + 2 SO2(g)
heat
2HgO (s) 2Hg (l) + O2 (g)
Copper is obtained from its sulphide ore (CuS) by
heating in the presence of oxygen.
heat
2CuS (s) + 3O2 (g) 2Cu2O (s) + 2SO2 (g)
heat
2Cu2O + Cu2S 6Cu(s) + SO2 (g)
ii) Extraction of metals in the middle of the activity
series :-
Metals in the middle of the activity series like Zn, Fe, Pb, are found as
oxide, sulphide or carbonate ores.
It is easier to obtain metals from their oxides than from their sulphides
or carbonates. So non oxide ores are converted into oxide form before
reduction. Non oxide ores can be converted into oxide form by roasting or
calcination.
Roasting :- is heating of an ore in the presence of oxygen. It is used to
convert suphide ores into oxide form.
heat
Eg :- 2 ZnS + 3O2 2 ZnO + 2SO2
Calcination :- is heating of an ore in the absence of oxygen. It is used to
convert sulphide ores into oxide form.
Eg :- ZnCO3 (s) heat ZnO (s) + CO2(g)
The oxide ore is then reduced to the metal by heating with a reducing
agent. The most common reducing agent is coke (carbon).
Eg :- ZnO (s) + C (s) heat Zn (s) + CO(g)
Thermit reactions :-
Sometimes reactive metals like Na, Ca, Al etc. are used as
reducing agents to obtain metals from their oxides.
Eg :-3MnO2(s) +4Al(s) 3 Mn(l) + 2Al2O3 (s) + Heat
(Manganese (Manganese)
dioxide)
The reaction between metal oxides and aluminium is highly
exothermic and the metals are obtained in molten state. Such
reactions are called thermit reactions.
The reaction between iron oxide and aluminium produces
molten iron. This reaction is used to join rail tracks, broken
machine parts etc.
Fe2O3 (s) + 2Al(s) Al2O3 (s) + 2Fe(l) + Heat
GENERAL
iii) Extraction of metals at the top of the activity series :-
Metals at the top of the activity series like K, Na, Ca, Al etc. cannot be
obtained from their ores by simple heating or by heating with reducing
agents. They are obtained by electrolytic reduction of their molten
chlorides.
Eg :- When electric current is passed through molten sodium chloride,
sodium metal is deposited at the cathode and chlorine gas is deposited at
the anode.
At cathode :- Na + + e - Na (Sodium metal)
At anode :- 2Cl - Cl2 + 2e - (Chlorine gas)
9) Refining of metals :-
The removal of impurities from the metal to obtain the
pure metal is called refining of metals. The most common
method for refining of metals is electrolytic refining.
In this method a block of the impure metal is made the
anode and a thin sheet of the pure metal is made the cathode.
The electrolyte is a salt solution of the metal to be purified.
Eg :- In the electrolytic refining of copper, a block of impure
copper is made the anode and a thin strip of pure copper is
made the cathode. The electrolyte is acidified copper
sulphate solution. When electric current is passed through
the electrolyte, pure copper from the anode dissolves into the
electrolyte. An equivalent amount of pure metal is deposited
on the cathode. The soluble impurities go into the solution
whereas the insoluble impurities settle down at the bottom of
anode and are known as anode mud.
10a) Corrosion :-
Corrosion is the damage caused to metals due to the reaction of metals with
oxygen, moisture, carbon dioxide etc.
Eg :- Formation of brown coating of rust over iron.
Formation of green coating of basic copper carbonate over copper.
Formation of black coating of silver sulphide over silver.
To show that air and moisture are necessary for the rusting of iron :-
Take three test tubes marked 1,2,3 and put iron nails in each of them. Put some
anhydrous calcium chloride in test tube 1 to absorb moisture. Pour some boiled distilled
water in test tube 2 and pour some oil over it to prevent air into the test tube. Pour some
water in test tube 3. Cork the test tubes and leave them for a few days. The nails in test tube
1 does not get rusted because it had only air and no water. The nails in test tube 2 does not
rust because it had only water and no air. The nails in test tube 3 gets rusted because it had
air and water.
b) Prevention of corrosion :-
Corrosion of metals can be prevented by :-
i) Applying oil or grease.
ii) Applying paint.
iii) By galvanisation. (Coating with zinc)
iv) By tinning. (Coating with tin)
v) By electroplating. (Coating a less reactive metal like chromium)
vi) By alloying. (Making alloys)
c) Alloy :-
An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of a metal with other metals or non
metal.
Eg :- Steel – iron, carbon
Stainless steel – iron, carbon, cobalt, nickel
Brass – copper, zinc
Bronze – copper, tin
Solder – Lead, tin (used for welding electrical wires together)
If one of the metals in an alloy is mercury, it is called an amalgam.
