CHAPTER 9 METALS

9.1 Properties of Metals

Physical properties
- Ductile (can be stretched to form wires)
- Malleable (can be bent and beaten into different shapes)
- Good conductors of electricity and heat
- Shiny
- High melting points and boiling points (except mercury and sodium)
- High density (except sodium)
- Strong
ALLOYS
Alloy a mixture of metallic elements or metallic with non-metallic.
Pure metals are weak as the layers of atoms slide over each other easily.
in alloy of 2 metals, they have different sizes of atoms so this distrupts the orderly layer of atoms making it difficult for atoms
to slide over.
Uses of Alloy:
- Steel (mixture of iron, little carbon and trace elements)
- Brass (copper and zinc) tough and corrosive-resistant

- Coin metals (copper with other metals e.g. nickel) tough, resistant and stand up to wear
Uses of Stainless Steel
is an alloy of iron containing chromium or nickel. Is the most expensive way
Applications for:
- Cutleries
- Medical instruments for hospital operations
- Kitchen sinks
- Steel objects in chemical factories and oil refineries
9.2 Reactivity Series
Reaction of Metals with Water
Potassium, Sodium, and Calcium reacts with cold water to form:
M(s) + 2H2O(l) MOH(aq) + H2(g)
Metal + Water Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen
Magnesium, Zinc, Iron reacts with steam to form:
M(s) + 2H2O(g) MO(s) + H2(g)
Metal + Water Metal Oxide + Hydrogen
Iron does not react with water
Copper and Gold have no reaction with water and steam
Reaction of Metals with Dilute Hydrochloric Acid

Pottasium, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc and Iron reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form:
M(s) + 2HCl(aq) MCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Metal + Acid Metal Chloride + Hydrogen
Lead reacts with warm hydrochloric acid slowly
Copper and Gold have no reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid
Displacement Reactions
Displacement reaction is the displacement of ions of metal from compounds of metals lower in reactivity series by metals
higher in reactivity series.
E.g. Magnesium displaces copper(II) chloride
Mg(s) + CuCl2(aq) MgCl2(aq) + Cu(s)
For observation, well see silver magnesium metal coated with brown copper metal
Displacement is due to Mg atoms transfer electrons to Cu2+ ions forming Cu atoms.
Mg(s) Mg2+(aq) + 2eCu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s)
Loss of electrons is due to its less reactive as less reactive metal has higher chance of losing electrons. Thats why when Mg
is placed in KCl, no reaction occurs.
Mg(s) + KCl2(aq) --- No reaction

E.g. Displacement from metal oxides

Metal higher in reactivity series displaces oxides of metals lower in reactivity series.
When Ca burns with Ag2O, Ca displaces Ag to produce CaO and Ag.
Ca(s) + Ag2O(s) CaO(s) + 2Ag(s)
This is called thermit reaction large amount of heat is produced.
Reaction of Metal Oxides with Carbon
The lower the position of metal in reactivity series, the easier for carbon to remove oxygen from metal oxide by heating. At higher
position, stronger heat is needed.
E.g. CuO reacts with C can be reduced by bunsen burner flame temperature
CuO(s) + C(s) Cu(s) + CO2(g)
For iron oxide to be reduced, it needs very high temperature.
Reaction of Metal Oxides with Hydrogen
The lower position of metal in reactivity series, the easier hydrogen remove oxygen from metal oxide by heating. At higher position,
stronger heat is needed.
E.g. PbO reacts with H2 can be reduced by bunsen burner flame temperature
PbO(s) + H2(g) Pb(s) + H2O(l)
Decomposition of Metal Carbonates
The lower position of metal in reactivity series, the easier hydrogen remove oxygen from metal oxide by heating. At higher position,
stronger heat is needed.
E.g. CuCO3 reacts decomposes by heat of bunsen burner flame temperature
CuCO3(s) Cu(s) + CO2(g)

9.3 Extraction of Metals

Metals from Rocks
Minerals elements/compounds that make up rocks
Metal ore rock containing metal
Extracting these metals
- Metal ores are removed from ground.
- The ores contain useful and unwanted materials. Unwanted materials are separated to obtain concentrated mineral.
- Metal is extracted from the mineral.
Occurrence of Metals
Metal ores are compounds, usually as:
- Metal oxides metal + oxygen, eg: Al2O3
- Metal sulphides metal + sulphur, eg: HgS
- Metal carbonates metal + carbon + oxygen, eg: MgCO3

Mineral
Metal
Sodium

Name of
ore
Rock salt

Aluminiu
m
Zinc

Bauxite
Zinc
Blende

Chemica
l name
Sodium
chloride
Calcium
carbonat
e
Magnesiu
m
carbonat
e
Aluminiu
m oxide
Zinc
sulphide

Calcium

Limeston
e

Iron

Haematit
e
Magnetit
e

Iron(III)
oxide
Iron(II),
(III) oxide

Magnesiu Magnesit
m
e

Formula

Fe2O3

NaCl
CaCO3
MgCO3

Al2O3
ZnS

Fe3O4

Tin

Cassiterit Tin(IV)
e
oxide

SnO2

Lead

Galena

Lead(II)
sulphide

PbS

Copper

Chalcopy
rite

Copper(II
)
sulphide
+ Iron
sulphide

CuFeS2
(CuS + FeS)

Mercury

Cinnabar

Mercury(I
I)
sulphide

HgS

The Extraction of Metals

Least Reactive easiest to extract; extracted by physical methods
Less Rective harder to extract than least reactive; by blast furnace; usually occur as compounds of oxides or sulphides.
Most Reactive hardest to extract strong bonds in compounds; by electrolysis decomposing compounds with electricity.
Uses of Metals
The choice of metals over another depends on 3 factors:
1. Physical properties (e.g. melting point, strength, density, conductivity)
2. Chemical properties (e.g. resists corrosion)
3. Cost
The Uses of Some Metals and Their Reasons
Metal
Uses
Reason for the choice
Aluminium
- Drink cans
- Low density, non-toxic, cheap
- Window frames - Resists corrosion, strong
Copper
- Electrical wires
- Water pipes

- Ductile, good conductor of electricity

- Strong, malleable, resists corrosion

- Jewellery
- Protective
coating

- Shiny and attractive, very malleable

- Good reflector of heat and light

Gold

Titanium
- Supersonic
aircraft
- Spacecraft

- Light but strong, resists corrosion