Metals and Non-metals

  • Elements can be classified as metals and non-metals on the basis of their properties.
  • Examples of some metals are: Iron (Fe), Aluminium (Al), Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu)
  • Examples of some non-metals are: Hydrogen (H), Nitrogen (N), Sulphur (S), Oxygen (O)

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF METALS

REACTION OF METALS WITH AIR

  • Metals combine with oxygen to form metal oxide.
  • Metal + O2 → Metal oxide
    Examples:
    (i) 2Cu + O2 → 2CuO Copper oxide (black)                                                        (ii) 4Al + 3O2 → 2Al2O3 Aluminium oxide                                                        (iii) 2Mg + O 2 → 2MgO
  • The reactivity of different metals are different with O2.
  • Na and K react so vigorously that they catch fire if kept in open so they are kept immersed in kerosene.
  • Surfaces of Mg, Al, Zn, Pb are covered with a thin layer of oxide which prevent them from further oxidation.
  • Fe does not burn on heating but iron fillings burn vigorously.
  • Cu does not burn but is coated with black copper oxide.
  • Au and Ag does not react with oxygen.

AMPHOTERIC OXIDES

  • Metal oxides which react with both acids as well as bases to produce salts and water are called amphoteric oxides.
  • Examples:
    (i) Al2O3 + 6HCl → 2AlCl3 + H2O
    (ii) Al2O3 + 2NaOH → 2NaAlO2 + H2O Sodium Aluminate

REACTION OF METALS WITH WATER

  • Metal + Water → Metal oxide + Hydrogen
  • Metal oxide + Water → Metal hydroxide
  • Examples:
    (i) 2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2 + Heat
    (ii) Ca + 2H2O → Ca(OH)2 + H2
    (iii) Mg + 2H2O → Mg(OH)2 + H2
    (iv) 2Al + 3H2O → Al2O3 + 3H2
    (v) 3Fe + 4H2O → Fe3O4 + 4H2

REACTION OF METALS WITH ACIDS(DILUTE)

  • Metal + Dilute acid → Salt + H2
  • Cu, Ag, Hg do not react with dil. acids.
  • Examples:
    (i) Fe + 2HCl → FeCl2 + H2
    (ii) Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2+ H2
    (iii) Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + H2
    (iv) 2Al + 6HCl → 2AlCl3 + 3H2

REACTION OF METALS WITH SOLUTIONS OF OTHER METAL SALTS

  • Metal A + Salt solution B
  • Salt solution A + Metal B
  • Reactive metals can displace less reactive metals from their compounds in solution form.
  • Fe + CuSO4→ FeSO4 + Cu

REACTIVITY SERIES

The reactivity series is a list of metals arranged in the order of their decreasing activities.

REACTION OF METALS WITH NON-METALS

  • Reactivity of elements is the tendency to attain a completely filled valence shell.
  • Atoms of the metals lose electrons from their valence shell to form cation. Atom of the non-metals gain electrons in the valence shell to form anion.
  • E.g.: Formation of NaCl
    Sodium cation Na → Na+ + e- 2, 8, 1 2, 8
    Chloride anion Cl + e- → Cl- 2, 8, 7 2, 8, 8

IONIC COMPOUNDS

The compounds formed by the transfer of electrons from a metal to a non-metal are called ionic compounds or electrovalent compounds.
FORMATION OF IONIC COMPOUNDS

FORMATION OF IONIC COMPOUNDS

(i) Physical nature: They are solid and hard, generally brittle. 
(ii) Melting and Boiling Point: They have high melting and boiling point. 
(iii) Solubility : Generally soluble in water and insoluble in solvents such as kerosene, petrol etc. 
(iv) Conduction of electricity : Ionic compounds conduct electricity in molten and solution form but not in solid state. 

OCCURENCE OF METALS

(i) Minerals: The elements or compounds which occur naturally in the earth’s crust are called minerals. 
(ii) Ores: Minerals that contain very high percentage of particular metal and the metal can be profitably extracted from it, such minerals are called ores. 

EXTRACTION OF METALS FROM ORES

  • Step 1. Enrichment of ores. 
  • Step 2. Extraction of metals. 
  • Step 3. Refining of metals. 
  • Steps Involved in Extraction of Metals from Ores
    Gangue → Roasting → Calcination → Reduction

IMPORTANT TERMS

(a) Gangue : Ores are usually contaminated with large amount of impurities such as soil, sand etc. called gangue. 
(b) Roasting : The sulphide ores are converted into oxides by heating strongly in the presence of excess air. This process is called roasting. 
2ZnS + 3O2 →(Heast) 2ZnO + 2SO2 
(c) Calcination : The carbonate ores are changed into oxides by heating strongly in limited air. This process is called calcination. 
ZnCO3 →(Heat) ZnO + CO2 
(d) Reduction : Metal oxides are reduced to corresponding metals by using reducing agent like carbon. 
ZnO + C → Zn + CO 

REFINING OF METALS

  • The most widely used method for refining impure metal is electrolytic refining.
    (i) Anode : Impure copper 
    (ii) Cathode : Strip of pure copper 
    (iii) Electrolyte : Solution of acidified copper sulphate 
  • On passing the current through the electrolyte, the impure metal from anode dissolves into the electrolyte.
  • An equivalent amount of pure metal from the electrolyte is deposited at the cathode.
  • The insoluble impurities settle down at the bottom of the anode and is called anode mud.

CORROSION

  • The surface of some metals get corroded when they are exposed to moist air for a long period of time. This is called corrosion.
  • Examples:                                                                                                                 (i) Silver becomes black when exposed to air as it reacts with air to form a coating of silver sulphide.                                                                       (ii) Copper reacts with moist carbon dioxide in the air and gains a green coat of copper carbonate.                                                                      (iii) Iron when exposed to moist air acquires a coating of a brown flaky substance called rust.

PREVENTION OF CORROSION

  • The rusting of iron can be prevented by painting, oiling, greasing, galvanizing, chrome plating, anodizing or making alloys.
  • Galvanization : It is a method of protecting steel and iron from rusting by coating them with a thin layer of zinc.
  • Alloy : An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals or a metal and a non- metal.
  • Examples of alloy:
    (i) Iron : Mixed with small amount of carbon becomes hard and strong.
    (ii) Steel : Iron + Nickel and chromium
    (iii) Brass : Copper + Zinc
    (iv) Bronze : Copper + Tin (Sn)
    (v) Solder : Lead + tin
    (vi) Amalgam : If one of the metal is mercury (Hg). 

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