DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL

SCIENCES
chemistry section
Introduction to metals
Diagrammatic representations of pure metals
 GENERAL PROPERTIES OF METALS
- Atoms in metals are arranged in layers, which allows them to be bent
and shaped without breaking the bonds.
-There is a strong electrical force of attraction between these free
electrons (mobile electrons or 'sea' of delocalised electrons) (–) and the
'immobile' positive metal ions (+) that form the giant lattice and this is
the metallic bond.
- Most metals are good conductors of electricity and heat because the
delocalised electrons in the metal carry electrical charge through the
metal.
physical properties of metal
 They are hard and strong
 They are malleable (can be deformed or molded into a different shape).
 They are ductile (capable of being drawn out into wire or threads)
 They are sonorous (capable of making ringing sound)
 They are lustrous (shiny) but can be easily tarnished by corrosive oxidation in air and
water.
 They have high melting and boiling points, though there notable exceptions e.g.
Mercury
 Most metals have high densities
 Are solids at room temperature and pressure except for mercury which is a liquid at
room temperature and pressure.
 Good conductors of both heat and electricity
Chemical properties of metals
 All metals are electropositive ( lose electrons to form positive ions)
 All metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides
 Metals react with water to produce metal oxide (or metal hydroxide)
and hydrogen gas.
 Metals react with a dilute acid to form a metal salt and hydrogen gas.
 All metals react with halogens to form ionic metal halides
 Metal are reducing agents ( in a reaction metals are electron
donors)
Reactivity and Electro Chemical Series
Alternative term: Activity series
Definition: Reactivity is a list of metals with the most reactive
metal at the top and the least reactive metal at the bottom.
The order of reactivity can be determined by the reaction of
the metal with water or steam and acids.
In both types of reaction, if a reaction takes place, hydrogen
gas is formed.
Reactivity and Electro Chemical Series
Reactivity and Electro Chemical Series
The reactivity series is related to the tendency of metals to form positive ions
Very reactive metals lose their valence electrons easily to form cations
Metals at the top of series lose the electrons more easily and form ions rapidly
and are called electropositive.
Metals at the bottom of the series lose electrons with difficulty and do not
readily form ions and are said to be less electropositive
The metal higher up in the series will displace the one below it from aqueous
solution of its salts
Hydrogen is included in the series although it is a non-metal. It serves as a
reference point in the series.
Metals above hydrogen will react with dilute acids to give hydrogen gas, while
metals below hydrogen will not react with dilute acids to give hydrogen gas.
Reaction of metals with water or steam
Reaction of metals with water or steam continued
Reaction of metals with dilute hydrochloric acid
1. All metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series react with dilute hydrochloric
acid to form a salt and hydrogen gas.
2. All metals below hydrogen in the reactivity series do not react with dilute acids
NB: Due to the presence of adhesive oxide/coat on its surface, Aluminium may
seem to be non-reactive
This layer is relatively inert (Al2O3) meaning that the Aluminium underneath is not
exposed to other chemicals. This does not therefore mean that Aluminium is not
reactive.
It is important to scrap off the inert (Al2O3) coat in order to expose aluminium for
it to easily react.
Reaction of metals with dilute hydrochloric acid
Reaction of metals with oxygen
TASK
1. Iron, calcium and copper are metals. The table below describes the reactions
of these metals with cold water and steam.
(a) Place a tick (√) if the reaction will take place and a cross (x) if the reaction will
not take place

(b) place these metals in order of chemical activity, starting with the most reactive
 2. The list below shows metals arranged in ascending order of reactivity.
Silver
Zinc
Aluminium
Sodium
(a) Using metals from the list only, name:
(I) A metal which can be displaced by copper
(II) A metal which can react with cold water to produce an alkaline solution
(III) A metal which forms an amphoteric oxide when burnt
(IV) A metal whose carbonate does not decompose when heated
(V) A metal which forms a stable oxide layer
(b) Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction between sodium and water.
3. Place in order of chemical reactivity towards the metals calcium, iron,
magnesium and zinc, with the most reactive first.
4. Four other metals A, B, C and D are tested with dilute hydrochloric acid and
water
-Metal A reacts with steam but not with cold water
-Metal B does not reacts with steam or cold water but does react with dilute
hydrochloric acid
-Metal C reacts quickly with cold water
-Metal D does not react with water or with dilute hydrochloric acid
(a) Place metals A, B, C and D in order with the most reactive first
(b) State between which two letters (metals) hydrogen should be placed in the
above series