Metals

Physical properties of metals Metals

have high melting and boiling points (except for Group I metals) have high densities (except for Group I metals) are ductile (can be drawn into wires). are malleable (can be bent or beaten into thin sheets). are good conductors of electricity. are good conductors of heat. Alloys An alloy is a mixture of metal with one or more elements. For example,

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.

Alloys are stronger and harder than pure metals and they also can withstand corrosion better. Pure metals are relatively a little softer (but they are still hard)and they have a low resistance to corrosion as they are affected by air and water easily. Hence alloys are used more often instead of pure metals. Nowadays, complex alloys have been made with specific desired properties. Usually, transition metals are used in the production of alloys.

Structures of metals and alloys

Metals have high boiling points and high melting points (except for Group I metals) because the atoms in a metal are packed together in layers and arranged in a regular metal lattice and are held together by strong metallic bonds. Since the atoms in the metals are densely packed, the valence electrons can be lost easily and these mobile and delocalised electrons allow metals to conduct electricity and heat, quite easily. Metallic bonds consists of metal ions being attracted by a sea of delocalized and mobile electrons.

ln a pure metal, all the atoms are of the same size and are packed in layers in a regular manner. The layers of atoms slide over each other easily when force is applied or when it is hammered. This makes the metals soft ductile and malleable.

An alloy is a mixture of a pure metal with one or a few other elements (eg. Carbon). The atoms of the added element have a different size and they disrupt the regular arrangement of the atoms in the pure metal. Hence the atoms of different sizes cannot slide over each other easily. This makes the alloy harder and less malleable than pure metal. The alloy can then have many useful applications and uses.

Reactivity series

Some of the chemical reactions of metals are similar. For example,

Reaction of certain reactive metals with water to form metal hydroxide and hydrogen.
metal hydroxide + hydrogen gas

metal + water

Reaction of metals with steam to form metal oxide and hydrogen. metal + steam metal oxide + hydrogen gas

Reaction of metals with hydrochloric acid to form metal chloride and hydrogen metal + dilute hydrochloric acid metal chloride + hydrogen gas

Reactivity series

However, some metals may react more vigorously than others. Some metals such as gold are unreactive. The metal that reacts more vigorously with a substance, is said to be more reactive than other metals. Depending on how reactive they are, they can be listed in the order of their reactivities, from the most reactive to the least reactive. This list is known as the metal reactivity series.

For example, some metals react with cold water readily to form metal hydroxides (an alkali) whereas some react very slowly or not at all.

Calcium reacts readily with cold water to produce calcium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
Zinc and iron do not react with cold water, but react with steam as shown below to give metal oxide and hydrogen gas.

Potassium (with cold water/steam)

Reacts very violently with cold water forming potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas 2K(s) Hydrogen burns with a lilac flame + H O(l) 2KOH(aq) + H (g)
2 2

Potassium (with dil. HCl)

Reacts explosively. It should NEVER be carried out in the lab. 2K(s) + HCl 2KOH(aq) + H (g)
2

Sodium (with cold water/steam)

Reacts violently with cold water to form sodium hydroxide (an alkali) and hydrogen gas

 Hydrogen gas may catch fire and burn with a yellow flame 2Na(s) + H O(l) 2NaOH(aq) + H
2 2

Sodium (with dil. HCl)

2Na(s) Reacts explosively + HCl

2NaOH(aq) + H2

Calcium (with cold water/steam)

Reacts readily with cold water to form calcium hydroxide and hydrogen gas Ca(s) + 2H O(l) Ca(OH) (aq) + H
2 2 2

Calcium (with dil. HCl)

Reacts violently to form hydrogen gas Ca(s) + 2HCl(l) CaCl (aq) + H

2 2

Magnesium (with cold water)

Reacts very slowly with cold water to form magnesium hydroxide (sparingly soluble in water) and hydrogen gas
Mg(s) + 2H2O(l) Magnesium (with steam) Mg(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)

Hot magnesium reacts violently with steam to give a white powder of magnesium oxide and hydrogen gas A bright white glow (spark) is seen during the reaction Mg(s) + 2H O(g) Mg(OH) (aq) + H (g)
2 2 2

Magnesium (with dil. HCl)

Reacts quickly to form hydrogen gas Mg(s) + 2HCl(g) Mg(OH) (aq) + H (g)
2 2

Powdered magnesium reacts faster than magnesium strips.

Zinc (with cold water)

No reaction with cold water

Zinc (with steam)

Hot zinc reacts readily with steam to form zinc oxide (yellow when hot; white when cold) and hydrogen gas
Zn(s) + H2O(g) Zinc (with dil. HCl) ZnO(s) + H2(g)

Zn(s) Reaction is quite fast to give hydrogen gas + HCl ZnO(s) + H (g)
2

How do you test for hydrogen gas?

Iron (with cold water)

Rusts because it reacts very slowly with water in presence of oxygen in air
Iron (with steam)

On heating continuously in steam, hot iron reacts slowly with steam to form iron oxide and hydrogen gas
3Fe(s) + 4H2O(g) Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g)

Note the formula of this special iron oxide !

Iron (with dil. HCl)

Reacts slowly to form hydrogen gas Fe(s) + 2HCl FeCl (aq) + H (g)
2 2

Lead, copper, silver (with cold water)

No reaction with cold water

Lead, copper, silver (with steam)

No reaction with steam

Lead, copper, silver (with dil. HCl)

No reaction

Copper does react with concentrated nitric acid. This is exceptional as concentrated nitric acid is acting as an oxidizing agent!! (Sec 4 topic!!)

The table shows that the reactivity of metals is in the order, Most reactive Potassium Sodium Calcium Magnesium Aluminium Zinc Iron Lead (Hydrogen) Copper Least reactive Silver Gold

You can invent some mnemonics to remember this metal reactivity series.

Editor : Mr Chong