PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

1. They are hard.

2. They are shiny when polished.
3. They are malleable i.e they can be beaten into different shapes.
4. They are ductile i.e can be drawn into wires.
5. They are good conductors of heat and electricity.
6. They are sonorous.
7. They have high melting and boiling points.

CONDUCTIVITY OF ELECTRICITY
Metals conducts electricity because they are solids at room temperature therefore their
particles are closely packed which results in atoms losing their outershell electrons to
their surrounding forming a ‘sea’ of electrons around positively charged ions. The
electrons are said to be delocalized and they conduct electricity.

MALLEABILITY OF METALS
Metals can be beaten into different shapes because their particles are closely packed and
held by strong forces therefore when force is applied to them they just shift positions
without breaking loose.

REACTIVITY SERIES OF METALS

Reactivity series is the arrangement of metals in order of decreasing reactivity. Most

reactive metals easily form positive ions than less reactive ones.

K most reactive
Na
Ca
Mg
Al reactivity decreases
Carbon
Zn
Fe
Hydrogen
Cu
Ag
Au least reactive

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 EXPERIMENTS TO SHOW ORDER OF REACTIVITY

1. Displacement reactions

Reactive metals displace less reactive ones from their solutions. Metals which fall below
a metal in the reactivity series are less reactive than the metal.
e.g Reacting magnesium metal with copper (II) sulphate solution.

CuSO4 (aq) + Mg (s) MgSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

During the reaction, magnesium metal dissolves, a brown substance is deposited in the
solution and colour of the solution fades away until it become colourless. This is because
the magnesium metal diplaces the copper ions from the solution forming magnesium
sulphate (colourless solution) and copper metal (brown substance).

2. Reactivity of metals with water or steam.

Most metals in the reactivity series react with either water or steam. The vigor of the
reaction decreases down the series.

METAL REACTIVITY WATER/STEAM PRODUCTS

Potassium very reactive metal hydroxide

Sodium quite reactive react with cold water and hydrogen
Calcium fairly reactive gas

Zinc only heated react with steam metal oxide and

Iron metals react hydrogen gas

Copper
Silver No reaction ____ ___
Gold

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3. Reactivity of metals with dilute Hydrochloric acid.

Most of the metals in the reactivity series react with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce a
metal chloride (salt) and hydrogen gas. The vigor of the reaction decreases down the
series.

Metal + dilute hydrochloric acid Metal chloride + hydrogen gas

e.g Calcium + dilute hydrochloric acid Calcium Chloride + hydrogen gas

Ca (s) + 2HCl (aq) CaCl2 (aq) + H2 (g)

POSITION OF CARBON IN THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Carbon is more reactive than metals below it in the reactivity series therefore it reduces
those metals from their compounds.

e.g Zinc oxide + Carbon Zinc metal + Carbon dioxide gas

2ZnO (s) + C (s) 2Zn (s) + CO2 (g)

POSITION OF HYDROGEN IN THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Hydrogen is more reactive than metals below it in the reactivity series therefore it reduces
the metals ion of those metals from their compounds.

e.g Copper (II) oxide + Hydrogen gas Copper metal + Water

CuO (s) + H2 (g) Cu (s) + H2O (g)

APPARENT UNREACTIVITY OF ALUMINIUM

In the reactivity series aluminium is between magnesium and zinc. It is a reactive metal
but behaves like an unreactive metal as aluminium sauce pans do not react with steam or
acids in the food during cooking. This is because aluminium reacts with oxygen in air
forming a layer of aluminium oxide which protects and prevent further reaction of the
metal.

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 ACTION OF HEAT ON METAL COMPOUNDS

1. METAL HYDROXIDES / OXIDES

Metal hydroxides of less reactive metals are decomposed by heat to a metal oxide and
water (steam).

Iron (II) hydroxide Iron (II) oxide + Water

2 Fe (OH) 2 (s) 2 FeO (s) + 2 H2O (g)

Metal oxides are decomposed by heat to metal and oxygen gas.

e.g Copper (II) oxide Copper metal + Oxygen gas

2Cu (s) 2 Cu(s) + O2 (g)

Hydroxides of more reactive metals like Potassium and Sodium are not decomposed by
heat because they are strongly bonded to the other ion and their compounds are very
stable. A lot of energy is required to break them.

Test for Oxygen gas

Test: Use a glowing Splint.

Result: Glowing Splint relights.

2. METAL CARBONATES

Metal carbonates are decomposed by heat to a 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: Lime water turns milky.

Carbonates of potassium and sodium metals are not decomposed by heat because they are
strongly bonded to the carbonate ion.

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 EXTRACTION OF METALS

Metals are extracted from their ores. The methods of extraction are related to the
reactivity of the metals.

Metal Methods of extraction

K
Na
Ca Electrolysis
Mg
Al

Zn Reduction of heated metal oxide by coke

Fe (carbon).
e.g ZnO (s) Zn (s) + O2 (g)
Cu
Thermal decomposition of the metal sulphide
i.e CuS (s) Cu (s) + SO2 (g)
Au Physical means because it is found free on
earth.

ORES OF SOME METALS

Metal Ore Chemical name of

the ore Fomulae of
compound

Aluminium Bauxite Aluminium oxide Al2O3. 3H2O

Copper Copper pyrites Copper iron sulphide Cu Fe S2

Iron Haematite Iron (III) oxide Fe2 O3

Zinc Zinc Blende Zinc Sulphide ZnS

EXTRACTION OF ALUMINIUM

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Aluminium is extracted from the Bauxite by electrolysis.

Electrolysis is the process of decomposing a compound using electrical energy.

Aluminium is the most abundant element in the earth’s crust. It is a very reactive metal
and as such it is difficult to extract from its ore because it is strongly bonded to other
elements. It is found as minerals like Bauxite, cyslite, mica and clay.

The main ore of aluminium is Bauxite. It is an impure form of aluminium oxide. The
impurities in the bauxite are:- Iron (III) oxide
- Sand
The impurities are removed from the ore before it is electrolysed. They are removed by
treating the ore with Sodium hydroxide.

The pure aliminium oxide is called Alumina. It has a very high melting point of 2017oC
which is expensive to maintain and dangerous to work at.

The melting point of alumina is reduced to between 800oC and 1000oC by dissolving
alumina in molten Cryolite (Na3AlF6). The cryolite provide a considerable saving in the
energy requirements of the process.

The mixture of pure aluminium oxide and cryolite is then electrolysed in the Hall Herolt
cell as shown below:

The anodes are blocks of graphite which are lowered into the mixture of molten alumina
and cryolite. The cathode is the graphite lining of the steel vessel containing the cell.

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During the electrolysis, the negatively charged oxide ions are attracted to the anode
where they lose electrons to form oxygen gas.

2O2- - 4es O2 (g) : Oxidation

The positive aluminium ions are attracted to the cathode where they gain electrons to
form molten aluminium metal.

Al3+ + 3es Al (s) : Reduction

Overall the reaction taking place is:

2Al2O3 (l) 4Al (l) + 3 O2 (g)

The molten aluminium collects at the bottom of the cell and it is syphoned out at regular
intervals. The cryolite is not affected by flow of electricity therefore there is no problems
of other metals being deposited.

The problem is only with the burning away of the anodes as oxygen gas produced reacts
with graphite producing carbon dioxide gas. This leads to regular replacement of anode.

C (s) + O2 CO2 (g)

EXTRACTION OF IRON

Iron is the second most abundant metal in the earth’s crust after aluminium. It is a fairly
reactive metal therefore it is extracted from its ore by reducing its metal oxide with
carbon monoxide. Iron ores are Haematite (Fe2O3) and Magnitite (Fe3O4).

The main iron ore is Haematite, it is the one from which iron is extracted. The reduction
of the iron ore is done in a steel tower lined with a heat resistant bricks. The tower is
called the blast furnace because it is keep at very temperatures.

The raw materials for extraction of iron are:-

1. Iron ore – Haematite (which is mainly iron (III) oxide mixed with sand as an impurity)

2. Limestone- Calcium carbonate.

3. Coke – Carbon
The raw material are mixed together to give a mixture called Charge. The charge is
heated in the blast furnace and several reactions take place that lead to the production of
liquid iron.

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The reactions are:
1. The coke reacts with oxygen in air giving carbon dioxide gas.

C (s) + O2 (g) CO2 (g)

2. The carbon dioxide reacts with more coke giving carbon monoxide gas.

CO2 (g) + C (s) 2 CO (g)

3. The carbon monoxide is the reducing agent and reduces the iron (III) oxide to iron
metal and carbon dioxide gas.

Fe2O3 (s) + 3CO (g) 2Fe(l) + 3CO2 (g)

The liquid or molten iron trickles to the bottom of the furnace because it has a high
density.

4. The limestone (Calcium carbonate) is decomposed by heat to Calcium Oxide and

carbon dioxide gas.
heat
CaCO3 (s) CaO (s) + CO2 (g)
The Calcium oxide is used to remove impurities as it reacts with sand (Silicon dioxide)
giving Slag (Calcium silicate).

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 CaO (s) + SiO2 (s) CaSiO3 (l)

The slag also tickles to the bottom of the furnace and float on top of the molten iron
because it is less dense than iron.

The slag is used in making road and buildings for foundations.

The iron obtained is called ‘pig’ or cast iron. It is hard and brittle therefore it has limited
uses. It is used to make gas cylinders. To improve its quality and increase its uses it is
converted to steel.

PRODUTION OF STEEL

The pig iron produced from the blast furnace contains 5% - 10% carbon and other
impurities like sulphur, silicon and phosphorus. These impurities make the iron hard and
brittle. To improve the quality of the iron, the impurities are removed hence steel is
produced. Steel is an alloy. The impurities are removed in the basic oxygen furnace.

DRAW THE DIAGRAM OF THE BASIC OXYGEN FURNACE on page 92 chemistry

for you.

-Molten iron from the blast furnace is poured into the basic oxygen furnace.

-A water cooled pipe is introduced into the furnace and oxygen at 5-15 atmospheric
pressure is blown onto the surface of the molten iron. The impurities are oxidized to
their oxides. i.e - Carbon to carbon dioxide gas
- Sulphur to sulphur dioxide gas
- Silicon to solid silicon dioxide
- Phosphorus to sold phosphorus (V) oxide.
-
The gaseous oxide escape into the atmosphere while the solid ones are reacted with
calcium oxide to form slag which is then poured off the furnace. Samples of the molten
iron are then checked for carbon content. When the required amount of carbon is reached,
the blast is oxygen is stopped. If other types of steel are required then up to 30% scrap
iron is added along with other metals and all the carbon is burned off.

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DIFFERENT TYPES OF STEEL

Steel type Typical composition Properties Uses

1. Mild steel 99.5% Iron, 0.5% It has lost most of In making car
Carbon its brittleness and it bodies, building
is easily worked. bridges and ships.

2. Hard steel 99% Iron, 1% Carbon It is tough and For cutting tools,
brittle. chisels and razor
blades.

3. Manganese 87% iron, It is tough and In making drill bits

steel 13% Manganese springy. and springs.

4. Stainless 75% Iron, It is tough and does In making cutlery,

steel 18% chromium, not corrode. kitchen sinks,
7% nickel surgical instruments
and chemical plants.

5. Tungsten 95% Iron, 5% tungsten It is tough and hard In making edges of

steel even at high high speed cutting
temperatures. tools.

ALLOYS
An alloy is a mixture of metals or metals and non-metals. Alloys are metallic substances
that have more useful properties than the original pure metals they are made from.
Alloying metals improve their quality e.g. steel.

Other common alloys

Alloy Composition Use

1. Brass 65% Copper, 35% Zinc In making jewellery, door

handles, machine bearings
and in electrical
connections because it does
not corrode easily and is
decorative.

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 2.Bronze 90% Copper, 10% Tin In making medals, statues,
machine castings and
machine parts because it is
hard and decorative.

3. Duralumin 95% aluminium, In aircraft construction and

4% Copper, making bicycle parts
1% magnesium, manganese because it has a low density
and iron and does not corrode.

4. Solder 70% Lead, 30% Tin In connecting electric wires

because it has a low melting
point and set easily.

5. Alnico Aluminium, Nickel, Cobalt In making permanent

magnets.

USES OF SOME METALS

1. Aluminium
- It is used in the manufacture of aircraft bodies because of its high strength and low
density.
- It is also used for food containers because of its resistance corrosion.
2. Zinc
- It is used for galvanizing iron because it does not corrode easily.
- In making outer casing of dry cells because it does not corrode easily.
- In making brass because it is decorative.
3. Copper
- In making electrical wires, cooking utensils, car radiators and ornaments.

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