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METALS AND NON METALS

The major source of metals is the earths crust. Some metals are also present in seawater in the form of their salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, etc. The natural materials, in which metal occurs in the form of their compounds in the earths crust, are known as minerals. The minerals from which the metal can be extracted conveniently and economically is called an ore.
How do metals occur in nature?

Metals occur in nature in the free as well as in the combined states. The metals at the bottom of the activity series are the least reactive for e.g. silver, gold, platinum are generally found in the Free State.{ because they do not react with air, water, etc} Copper and silver are also found in the combined state as their sulphide or oxide ores. The metals at the top of the activity series (K, Na, Ca, Mg and Al) are so reactive that they are never found in nature as free elements. The metals in the middle of the activity series (Zn, Fe, Pb, etc.) are moderately reactive. They are found in the earths crust mainly as oxides, sulphides or

carbonates. The ores of many metals are oxides. This is because oxygen is a very reactive element and is very abundant on the earth. On the basis of reactivity, the metals can be grouped into the following three categories (i) Metals of low reactivity; (ii) Metals of medium reactivity; (iii) Metals of high reactivity. Different techniques are to be used for obtaining the metals falling in each category.
Several steps are involved in the extraction of pure metal from ores.

1. Enrichment of Ores Ores mined from the earth are contaminated with large amounts of impurities such as soil, sand, etc., called gangue.

2 The impurities must be removed from the ore prior to the extraction of the metal. Thus, the process of removing unwanted substances from the ore is called concentration of ore or enrichment of ore The processes used for removing the gangue from the ore are based on the differences between the physical or chemical properties of the gangue and the ore.

2.Reduction process Extracting Metals Low in the Activity Series Metals low in the activity series are very unreactive. The oxides of these metals can be reduced to metals by heating alone. For example, cinnabar (HgS) is an ore of mercury. When it is heated in air, it is first converted into mercuric oxide (HgO). Mercuric oxide is then reduced to mercury on further heating. 2HgS(s) + 3O2 (g 2HgO(s) Heat Heat 2HgO(s) + 2SO2 (g) 2Hg (l) + O2 (g)

Similarly, copper which is found as Cu2S in nature can be obtained from its ore by just heating in air. 2Cu2S + 3O (g) Heat 2Cu2 O(s) + 2SO2 (g)

3 2Cu2O + Cu2S Heat 6Cu(s) + SO2 (g)

Extracting Metals in the Middle of the Activity Series

The metals in the middle of the activity series such as iron, zinc, lead, copper, etc., are moderately reactive. These are usually present as sulphides or carbonates in nature. It is easier to obtain a metal from its oxide, as compared to its sulphides and carbonates. Therefore, prior to reduction, the metal sulphides and carbonates must be converted into metal oxides. The sulphide ores are converted into oxides by heating strongly in the presence of excess air. This process is known as roasting. 2ZnS(s) + 3O2 (g) Heat 2ZnO(s) + 2SO2 (g)

CONVERSION OF THE CARBONATE OR SULPHIDE ORE INTO METAL OXIDE

The carbonate ores are changed into oxides by heating strongly in limited air. This process is known as calcination ZnCO3 (s) Heat ZnO(s) + CO2 (g)

REDUCTION OF METAL OXIDE TO METAL

Reduction by carbon The metal oxides are reduced to the corresponding metals by using suitable reducing agents such as carbon. For example, when zinc oxide is heated with carbon, it is reduced to metallic zinc. ZnO(s) + C(s) Zn(s) + CO (g)

Reduction by displacement reactions Besides using carbon (coke) to reduce metal oxides to metals, sometimes displacement reactions can also be used. The highly reactive metals such as sodium, calcium, aluminum, etc., are used as reducing agents because they can displace metals of lower reactivity from their compounds. For example, when manganese dioxide is heated with aluminium powder, the following reaction takes place 3MnO2(s) + 4Al(s) 3Mn (l) + 2Al2O3(s) + Heat These displacement reactions are highly exothermic. The amount of heat evolved is so large that the metals are produced in the molten state. For e.g. the reaction of iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) with aluminium is used to join railway tracks or cracked machine parts. This reaction is known as the thermite reaction. Fe2O3(s) + 2Al(s) 2Fe (l) + Al2O3(s) + Heat
The reduction of metal oxides to metal using aluminium as the reducing agent is called aluminothermy

Extracting Metals towards the Top of the Activity Series

The metals high up in the reactivity series are very reactive. They cannot be obtained from their compounds by heating with carbon. For example, carbon cannot reduce the oxides of sodium, magnesium, calcium, aluminium, etc., to the respective metals. This is because these metals have more affinity for oxygen than carbon.

These metals are obtained by electrolytic reduction. For example, sodium, magnesium and calcium are obtained by the electrolysis of their molten chlorides. The metals are deposited at the cathode (the negatively charged electrode), whereas, chlorine is liberated at the anode (the positively charged electrode). The reactions are At cathode Na+ + 1e Na At anode 2Cl Cl2 + 2e Similarly, aluminium is obtained by the electrolytic reduction of aluminium oxide. Obtaining metals from their compounds is also a reduction process.

Refining of Metals
The metals produced by various reduction processes are not very pure. They contain impurities, which must be removed to obtain pure metals. The method used for refining impure metals is electrolytic refining. Electrolytic Refining: of metal. the process of purifying the impure metal is called refining

Metals such as copper, zinc, tin, nickel, silver, gold, etc., are refined electrolytically. In this process, the impure metal is made the anode and a thin strip of pure metal is made the cathode. A solution of the metal salt is used as an electrolyte. On passing the current through the electrolyte, the pure metal from the anode dissolves into the electrolyte. An equivalent amount of pure metal from the electrolyte is deposited on the cathode. The soluble impurities go into the solution, whereas, the insoluble impurities settle down at the bottom of the anode and are known as anode mud.
Electro lytic refining of copper.

CORROSION

Silver articles become black after some time when exposed to air. This is because it reacts with sulphur in the air to form a coating of silver sulphide.
2Ag(s)
Silver

H2S(g)

Ag2S(s)
Silver sulphide

+ H2(g)
Hydrogen

Hydrogen sulphide

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(From air) (Black)

Copper reacts with moist carbon dioxide in the air and slowly loses its shiny brown surface and gains a green coat. This green substance is copper carbonate.
CuCO.Cu(OH)2

2 Cu (s) + CO2 (g) + O2 (g) + H2O (/)

Copper
l

CuCO3 .Cu (OH)2

Basic copper carbonate (Green}

-' From moist air

Iron when exposed to moist air for a long time acquires a coating of a brown flaky substance called rust. Rust is mainly hydrated ferric oxide (Fe2O3.xH2O).
2 Fe (s) + 3/2 O2 (g)
Moisture

+ H2O (/)

Fe2O3xH2O (s)
Hydrated ferric oxide

Iron (From air)

The process of slowly eating up of metals due to their conversion into oxides, carbonates, sulphides, sulphates, etc. by the action of atmospheric gases and moisture is called corrosion

Prevention of Corrosion
The rusting of iron can be prevented by painting, oiling, greasing, galvanising, chrome plating, anodising or making alloys. Galvanisation is a method of protecting steel and iron from rusting by coating them with a thin layer of zinc. The galvanised article is protected against rusting even if the zinc coating is broken because zinc is more reactive than iron.

Alloying --is a method of improving the properties of a metal. The desired properties can be obtained by this method. For example, iron is the most widely used metal. But it is never used in its pure state. This is because pure iron is very soft and stretches easily when hot. But, if it is mixed with a small amount of carbon (about 0.05 %), it becomes hard and strong. When iron is mixed with nickel and chromium, we get stainless steel, which is hard and does not rust. Thus, if iron is mixed with some other substance, its properties change. In fact, the properties of any metal can be changed if it is mixed with some other substance. The substance added may be a metal or a non-metal. An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or a metal and a nonmetal. It is prepared by first melting the primary metal, and then, dissolving the other elements in it in definite proportions. It is then cooled to room temperature. If one of the metals is mercury, then the alloy is known as an amalgam. The electrical conductivity and melting point of an alloy is less than that of pure metals. For example, 1. Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc (Cu and Zn), and

2. conductors of 3. 4. point and

Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin (Cu and Sn), are not good electricity whereas Copper is used for making electrical circuits. Solder an alloy of lead and tin (Pb and Sn), has a low melting is used for welding electrical wires together.

NCERT Q no. 1 , p- 55 Magnesium lies above zinc while copper lies below it. Therefore, magnesium is more reactive and hence can displace zinc from zinc oxide. ZnO + Mg (s) > Zn (s) + MgO (s)
Zinc oxide Magnesium Zinc Magnesium (II) oxide

Magnesium lies above zinc and copper, therefore, zinc and copper cannot displace magnesium from magnesium oxide. Lastly, both magnesium and zinc lie above copper in the activity series. Therefore, both magnesium and zinc can displace copper from copper oxide. CuO + Mg (s) > Cu (s) + MgO (s)
Copper oxide Magnesium Copper Magnesium oxide

CuO +
Copper oxide Zinc

Zn

>
Copper

Cu (s)

+
Zinc oxide

ZnO (s)

Which metals do not corrode?

Metals such as Au, Ag and Pt. which lie low in the activity series are highly unreactive. Therefore, they are not attacked by atmospheric gases and moisture and hence do not corrode. Give reasons : Platinum, gold and silver are used to make jewellery. Platinum, gold and silver are highly unreactive metals. Therefore, they do not undergo corrosion due to attack by moisture and atmospheric gases. Further, they are highly malleable and ductile. Because of these properties, i.e., resistance to corrosion, malleability and ductility, platinum, gold and silver are used to make jewellery Aluminium is a highly reactive metal; still it is used to make utensils for cooking. Aluminium is a strong and cheap metal. It is also a good conductor of heat. But it is highly reactive. When it is exposed to moist air, its surface is covered with a thin impervious (non-penetrable) layer of aluminium oxide (A12O3). This layer does not allow moist air to come in contact with the fresh metal and hence protects the metal underneath from further damage or corrosion. Thus, after the formation of this protective layer of A12O3, aluminium becomes resistant to corrosion. It is because of this reason that although aluminium is a highly reactive metal, it is still used to make utensils for cooking

Carbonate and sulphide ores are usually converted into oxides during the process of extraction. Direct reduction of carbonates and sulphides to obtain metals is not possible. However, it is much easier to obtain metals by reduction of their oxides. Therefore, prior to reduction, carbonates and sulphide ore are converted into their oxides by the process of calcination and roasting respectively. Electrolytic reduction
This method is used for reducing the of highly reactive metals. The metals obtained by this method are pure and need no further refining.

Carbon reduction
This method is used for reducing the oxides of moderately reactive metals. The metals obtained by this method are contain some impurities and need to be refined further.

Zinc is more electropositive than iron. So, it should get corroded faster than iron. But, it does not happen. Instead it is used for protecting iron (galvanisation). Explain.

Zinc when exposed to moist air gets covered with a protective coating of basic zinc carbonate, (Zn(OH)2-ZnCO3). This coating prevents zinc from further reaction. Thus, zinc does not get corroded, and can be used for protecting iron from rusting.
Give reasons for the following: Carbon is not used for obtaining aluminium from aluminium oxide, Ans. Carbon is not used for obtaining aluminium from aluminium oxide because aluminium has greater affinity for oxygen than for carbon. Hence, carbon cannot reduce aluminium oxide to aluminium.

For making gold ornaments, 22 carat gold is preferred to 24 carat gold. 24 carat gold is pure gold which is very soft and thus not suitable for making ornaments. 22 carat gold is an alloy of 22 parts by mass of gold and 2 parts by mass of copper or silver. It is harder than pure gold and thus preferred for making ornaments. Differentiate between roasting and calcination.
r^

Ans. The metals in the middle of the reactivity series like iron, zinc, lead and copper are moderately reactive. These are usually present as sulphides or carbonates in nature. It is easier to obtain metals from their oxides by reduction than from carbonates or sulphides. A carbonate ore is converted into oxide by calcination whereas a sulphide ore is converted into oxide by roasting. S.No. 1. 2. Calcination
Calcination is the process in which an ore is heated strongly in the absence of air. Converts a carbonate ore into metal oxide.

Roasting
Roasting is the process in which an ore is heated strongly in the presence of air. Converts sulphide ore into metal oxide.

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3. 4.
Removes water from hydrated ores and volatile Removes volatile impurities from ore. impurities from the ore. Calamine ore (zinc carbonate) is heated strongly Zinc blende (zinc sulphide) is strongly heated in air in the absence of air, it decomposes to form zinc (roasted), it forms zinc oxide and sulphur dioxide. oxide and carbon dioxide. ZnCO3 (s) Heat > ZnO 2ZnS(s) + 3O2 (g) Hcat > 2ZnO(s) +2SO2(g) (s) + CO2 (g)

On placing piece of zinc metal in the solution of mercuric chloride, it acquires a shining silvery surface but when it is placed in a solution of magnesium sulphate, no change is observed. Explain. Ans. Zinc is more reactive than mercury. Hence, it displaces mercury from mercuric chloride solutiori. This mercury deposits on the zinc metal. Hence, it acquires a shining silvery surface. Zn (s) + HgCl2 (aq) > ZnCl2 (aq) + Hg (/)
Zinc Mercuric chloride Zinc chloride Mercury

why is iron galvanised with zinc? Can it be galvanised with copper? If not, why? K. Iron is galvanised with zinc to protect it from rusting. This is because zinc is more
electropositive than iron. Copper is less electropositive than iron. Therefore, iron cannot be galvanised with copper (to prevent rusting).

J3. Explain why the surface of some metals acquires a dull appearance when exposed to air for \ '.~>ng time.
as, Some metals get affected by oxygen (in the air) and moisture even at room temperature. So, when such metals are exposed to air for a long time they get

corroded and give a dull appearance. ].J. u must have seen tarnished copper vessels being cleaned with lemon or tamarind juice. plain why these sour substances are effective in cleaning the vessels? K. Copper when exposed to moist air gets tarnished due to the formation of basic

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copper carbonate (CuCC^-CufOH^). Lemon or tamarind juice contains organic

acids. These acids react with the basic copper carbonate and clean the surface.

Which of the following methods is suitable for preventing an iron frying pan from ^rusting (a) applying oil (b) applying paint (c) applying a coating of zinc (d) all of the above The correct answer is (a). The frying pan can be protected from corrosion by applying oil. (only certain special paints can be used which can withstand high temperatures) Zinc is a low

xdfing meta). it ge& yap&rised. So, ti ti n$ advisable to use ziftc for c&atiftg a
frying pan.

'food cans are coated with tin and not with-zinc because zinc is costlier than tin. (b) zinc has a higher melting point than tin. (c) zinc is more reactive than tin. (d) zinc is less reactive than tin.
The correct answer is (c). Zinc is more reactive than tin. Moreover, tin is a nontoxic metal.

Describe the corrosion of copper (or brass) when kept in a humid place. On standing in moist air, copper/brass gets coated with a green coating of basic copper carbonate. Would it be right to store (a) a solution of silver nitrate (AgNO3) in a copper vessel? a solution of zinc sulphate (ZnSOrf in a lead vessel? Explain your answer, (a) A solution of silver nitrate should not be placed in a copper vessel. This is because copper is more electropositive than silver. As a result, copper (from the vessel) will slowly dissolve to cause holes in it, and silver metal will get precipitated. Zinc sulphate solution can be stored in lead vessel, because lead is less electropositive than zinc. So, lead will remain unaffected.