METALS NOTES(triple)

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
 Shiny when freshly cut or polished.
 Ductile-can be drawn into wires.
 Malleable-can be hammered into different shapes.
 Good conductor of electricity-by the movement of a mobile sea of electrons
 Good conductor of heat
 Have high density except group 1 metals
 Solids at room temperature except mercury
 Have high melting and boiling point except the group 1 and mercury.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

 Some react with acids to give salt and hydrogen gas(MAZIT)

Eg Zn + HCl ZnCl2 + H2

 Metals lose their outer shell electrons to form cations(positively charged ions)

Na → Na+ + e ( oxidation)

 Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides( basic and amphoteric oxides)

2Mg + O2 → 2MgO (basic oxide)

2Zn + O2 → 2ZnO (amphoteric oxide)

 Metals react with non metals to form ionic compounds

2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl
 More reactive metals react with water to form an alkaline solution and hydrogen gas

2K + 2H2O → 2KOH + H2

REACTIVITY SERIES OF METALS

It is the arrangement of the metals according to their order of reactivity. More reactive
metals readily lose their outermost shell electrons to form positive ions.

The order of reactivity can be determined when metals are reacted with water, oxygen and
dilute acids as shown in the table below

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 Metal Mnemonic Reaction with Reaction with dil.
water acid
Potassium, K Please Very fast reaction Explosive
Sodium, Na Send Very fast reaction explosive
Calcium, Ca Charlie’s Fairly fast Fast
Magnesium, Mg Monkeys Fast with steam Fast
Aluminium, Al And No reaction No reaction
Carbon, C cool
Zinc, Zn Zebras No reaction Slow reaction
Iron, Fe In No reaction Slow reaction
Hydrogen, H heavy
Lead, Pb Large No reaction No reaction
Copper, Cu Cages No reaction No reaction
Silver , Ag Securely No reaction No reaction
Gold, Au Guarded No reaction No reaction

NB: Reactivity of the metals decreases as we go down the series.

APPARENT UNREACTIVITY OF ALUMINIUM
Aluminium is a very reactive metal according to its position in the reactivity series. However,
aluminium reacts quickly with atmospheric oxygen to form an even (protective) layer of
aluminium oxide which then protects the metal (aluminium) from further reaction.
e.g

On the contrary, when iron rusts, it forms rust flakes which are not even and do not form a
protective layer. Oxygen and moisture can pass through the uneven rust flakes and react with
the metal below. This results in iron corroding throughout.

DISLPLACEMENT REACTIONS OF THE METALS

Metals high in the reactivity series can displace less reactive metals from their compounds.

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 a) Mg(s) + CuO(s) → MgO(s) + Cu(s)
Observations: a red brown solid of copper metal is seen and a white solid of magnesium
oxide is seen.
b) Zn + CaO → No reaction because calcium is more reactive than zinc.
c) Fe(s) + CuSO4(aq) → FeSO4(aq) + Cu(s)
Observations: a red brown solid of copper metal is seen
The solution changes color from blue to pale green as Fe2+ ions are formed.
POSITION OF CARBON IN THE REACTIVITY SERIES
Carbon is more reactive than metals below it in the reactivity series. It displaces those metals
from their compounds.
e.g Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2
ZnO + C → Zn + CO
POSITION OF HYDROGEN IN THE REACTIVITY SERIES
Hydrogen is more reactive than metals below it in the reactivity series. It displaces those
metals from their compounds.
e.g CuO(s) + H2(g) → Cu(s) + H2O(l)
THERMAL DECOMPOSITION
Some metal compounds can be decomposed or broken down by heat. The ease of
decomposition depends on the position of the metal on the reactivity series.
ACTION OF HEAT ON METAL CARBONATES/thermal decomposition
Metal carbonates are decomposed by heat to metal oxide and carbon dioxide gas.
e.g calcium carbonate → calcium oxide carbon dioxide gas
CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) + CO2(g)
Test for carbon dioxide gas
Test: bubble the gas in lime water
Result: limewater turns milky
Carbonates of highly reactive metals are not decomposed by heat because they are strongly
bonded to the carbonate ion.

K2CO3, Na2CO3 CaCO3, MgCO3, ZnCO3, CuCO3

Does not decompose Decomposition becomes easier as we move to the right

Difficult to decompose easy to decompose

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ACTION OF HEAT ON METAL NITRATES
Metal nitrates are also thermally unstable. Most decompose to give the metal oxide:

Lead(ii)nitrate ⃗
Heat lead(ii)oxide + nitrogen dioxide + oxygen

2Pb(NO3)2(s) ⃗
Heat 2PbO(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g)

However the nitrates of sodium and potassium do not decompose as far as those of less
reactive metals. They lose oxygen to form the metal nitrites and oxygen gas:

Potassium nitrate ⃗
Heat potassium nitrite + oxygen

2KNO3(s) ⃗
Heat 2KNO2(s) + O2(g)

ACTION OF HEAT ON METAL HYDROXIDES

Metal hydroxides are also decomposed to metal oxides:

Magnesium hydroxide ⃗
Heat magnesium oxide + water

Mg(OH)2(s) ⃗
Heat MgO(s) + H2O(g)

EXTRACTION OF METALS FROM THEIR ORES

An ore is a naturally occurring mineral from which a metal can be extracted.
The method of extraction depends on the position of the metal in the reactivity series.
METALS HIGH IN THE SERIES/more reactive metals
They are extracted by a more powerful method called electrolysis. This is because reactive
metals form strong ionic bonds with other elements. Electrolysis is more expensive because
electricity is used.
Metals extracted by this method are sodium, potassium, aluminium, etc.
FAIRLY REACTIVE METALS
Metals towards the middle of the series such as iron and zinc are extracted by the method of
reduction of the metal oxide. This is fairly cheap and moderately powerful.
Copper is extracted by roasting (heated in a limited supply of air).
LESS REACTIVE METALS
The metals down the series, silver and gold are very unreactive. They are found as free
(uncombined) elements in nature. They are found native (or in their elemental form).

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Some common metal ores are shown in the table below

metal Name of ore Chemical name of formula Method of extraction

compound in ore
Aluminum Bauxite Aluminium oxide Al2O3 Electrolysis

Copper Copper pyrites Copper iron sulphide CuFeS2 Roasting

Iron Haematite Iron(iii)oxide Fe2O3 Reduction

Sodium Rock salt Sodium chloride NaCl Electrolysis

zinc Zinc blende Zinc sulphide ZnS roasting

EXTRACTION OF IRON FROM ITS ORE (haematite)

Iron is extracted from its ore haematite by reduction in a blast furnace. The blast furnace is a
steel tower of approximately 30m high lined with heat resistant bricks of magnesium oxide
(MgO).
It is loaded with a ‘charge’ of iron ore (haematite), coke (made from coal) and limestone
(calcium carbonate). The raw materials or charge is fed in at the top of the furnace. The
furnace is then tightly closed at the top by a hopper. This can be shown in the diagram below.

Iron ore, coke and

limestone

tuyere

A blast of hot air is sent in near the bottom of the furnace through holes called tuyeres. This is
because hot air is less dense and it will rise up inside the furnace.
The coke will burn in the hot air to form carbon dioxide

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 C(s) + O2(g) → CO2(g) 1
The limestone decomposes in the hot air to form calcium oxide and carbon dioxide
CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) + CO2(g) 2
The carbon dioxide produced reacts with more hot coke forming carbon monoxide
CO2 (g) + C(s) → 2CO(g) 3
The carbon monoxide produced reduces the iron (iii) oxide high up in the furnace. This takes
place at a temperature around 700oC.
Fe2O3(s) + 3CO(g) → 2Fe(l) + 3CO2(g) 4
The red hot molten/liquid iron trickles to the bottom of the furnace.
The calcium oxide produced from limestone reacts with acidic impurities, like silicon
(iv)oxide (SiO2) (sand), in the ore to form a liquid slag( calcium silicate).
CaO(s) + SiO2(s) → CaSiO3(l) 5
Slag also trickles to the bottom of the furnace but settles on top of the molten iron because it
is less dense than molten iron.
The molten iron and molten slag may be tapped off at intervals.
Slag is a waste material used by builders and road makers for foundations.
The waste gases, mainly oxides of carbon and nitrogen escape from the top of the furnace.
They are used to heat incoming air and help to reduce energy costs.
The iron that comes from the furnace, pig /cast iron, contains a lot of carbon. This makes it
hard and brittle. It has limited use such as gas cylinders and other things like man hole covers
which cannot be bent during use.
Most of the iron from the furnace is turned into steel to improve its quality. Steel is an alloy
of iron and other elements.
STEPS IN STEEL MAKING
There are two major steps that are carried out in the manufacture of steel.
[Link] of impurities:
Pig iron contains a lot of carbon and other impurities such as sand, sulphur, silicon and
phosphorus.
These impurities are removed in the basic oxygen furnace. The molten iron from the blast
furnace is poured into the basic oxygen furnace. Oxygen is blown into the basic oxygen
furnace and it reacts with some of the impurities in the hot molten iron to form oxides.
Examples,
Carbon to carbon dioxide gas
Sulphur to sulphur dioxide gas
Silicone to silicon(iv) dioxide solid

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Phosphorus to phosphorus (v) oxide solid.
The gaseous oxides escape into the atmosphere while the solid ones like silicon(iv) dioxide
(sand)are reacted with calcium oxide to form slag.
2. Addition of other elements;
Other elements are added to get the required steel like mild steel
Examples

Steel Typical composition Properties Uses

Mild steel Fe(99.5%) + C(0.5%) It is easily worked. Making car bodies, bridges,
Lost most of the and ships.
brittleness
Hard steel Fe(99%) + C(1%) Tough and brittle Cutting tools, chisels, razor
blades.
Stainless steel Fe(74%) + Cr(18%) + Ni (8%) Tough, does not Making cutlery, kitchen
corrode sink, surgical instruments
and chemical plants.
Manganese steel Fe(87%) + Mn(13%) Tough and springy. Drill bits and springs

Tungsten steel Fe(95%) + W(5%) Tough, hard even at Edge of high speed cutting
high temperatures tools.

ALLOYS
An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals or metals and non-metals. Eg Brass consists of
copper and zinc.

Alloying improves the quality of pure metals so that they can be more useful.
Other alloys

Alloy Composition Uses

Brass 65% copper and 35% zinc Jewellery, door handles,

machine bearings and
electrical connections
because it does not corrode
easily and attractive.
Bronze 90% copper and 10% tin Medals, statues, machine
castings, machine parts
because it is hard and
attractive
Solder 70% lead and 30% tin Connecting electrical wires
because it has low melting

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 point

USES OF METALS
1. Aluminium

 It is used in the manufacture of aircraft bodies because of its strength and low density.
 It is used for food containers because of is resistance to corrosion.
 For making overhead electricity cables.
 Drinking cans.
 Bicycle frames and car bodies.
 Ladders.

2. Zinc
 It is used for galvanizing iron because it does not corrode easily. Galvanized iron is
used to make dustbins, water buckets, bath tubs, roofs and fencing wire.
 In making outer casing of dry cells because it does not corrode easily.
 In making brass.
3. Copper
 In making electrical wires.
 Cooking utensils
 Car radiators
 Making brass and bronze
 Electric motors and dynamos.
 Boilers.
 Hot water pipes.