Metal and Non-metal
1
Physical Material Properties of Metals
• The physical properties of metals are:
Luster
• The property of metals which in the pure state usually shines. The
shine on the metallic surface is the metallic luster. They shine in
light due to the reason that the metals possess free electrons that
vibrates on getting in contact with light.
Malleability
Malleability refers to the property of metals by which they can
be beaten into thin sheets. One such example is silver metal
beaten to make silver foil used for decorating sweets.
Ductility
Ductility refers to the properties of metals by virtue of which
they can be drawn into thin wires. One example of ductility is
copper and iron which can be drawn in to thin wires.
Conductivity
• The metals are a good conductor of heat and electricity as they can
pass through them. They are good conductors of heat and electricity.
The best conductors of electricity are silver and copper, however,
lead and mercury are poor conductors of electricity. They also have a
high melting point except Caesium and Galium have the very low
melting point.
Sonorous
• On being struck hard, the metals produce a ringing sound. Due to this
property, they sonorous. For example – the school bell produces a
loud ringing sound when stuck with the hammer hard. Some
examples are – Iron, Gold, Copper, Aluminium, Magnesium, and
many more.
Solid
• Except for Mercury, all the metals are solid. Mercury is in the liquid state at room temperature.
The exceptional metals are Sodium ( Na), Potassium ( K ) and Mercury. The metals like Sodium (
Na) and Potassium ( K ) are easily cut with the help of a knife. Other examples of metals are iron,
copper, silver, aluminum, calcium, gold etc.
Physical Material Properties of Non Metals
• Non – metals may be either solids, liquids, or gases.
• Non-metals are poor conductors of heat and electricity except Graphite.
• They do not possess metallic luster.
• Non-metals are not sonorous, they do not produce a ringing sound.
• Non-metals possess no malleability.
• They are not ductile.
• They have dull luster, however, iodine is lustrous.
• Some example of non – metals are carbon, oxygen, Sulphur, phosphorous, and many more.
Uses of Non Metals
• Many non-metals like chlorine, Sulphur, iodine are very useful for medicinal purposes.
• Non-metal like oxygen is very essential for our life for respiration.
• We use nitrogen phosphorus in fertilizers for better plant growth and enhance the fertility of the
soil.
• Non-metal like Sulphur is useful in crackers.
• Chlorine and Fluorine are useful for the water purification purpose.
Chemical Properties of Metals
• Oxidation
• All metals except the noble metals, which is gold and silver react with the oxygen to form
basic oxides. In the reaction, the Sodium reacts vigorously with oxygen and generates a lot
of heat. For example –
• Magnesium(Mg) + Oxygen (O2) —- 2MgO (Magnesium Oxide)
• Rusting of Iron
• Iron (Fe) + Oxygen (O2) + Water (H2O) ——— Fe2O3 (Iron Oxide, is a brown color rust)
Prevention of Corrosion
• Coating with paints or oil or grease: Application of paint or oil or grease on metal surfaces keep
out air and moisture.
• Electroplating: It is a method of coating one metal with another by the use of electric current.
This method not only lends protection but also enhances the metallic appearance.
• Galvanization: This is a process of coating molten zinc on iron articles. Zinc forms a protective
layer and prevents corrosion.
• Reaction of Metals with Water
• The metallic oxides are basic in nature. Metals like sodium (Na) react vigorously with water at
room temperature.
• 2Na + 2H2O ——— 2NaOH + H2 (Hydrogen hydroxide)
• The active metals like Potassium (K) and Calcium (Ca) reacts with water at room temperature.
However, some metals do not react. For example – Iron reacts with water slowly.
Extra Facts
• Alkali metals (Li, Na, K, etc) react vigorously with water and oxygen or air.
• Mg reacts with hot water.
• Al, Fe and Zn react with steam.
• Cu, Ag, Pt, Au do not react with water or dilute acids.
• Reaction with Acids
• Acids react with metals to liberate hydrogen along with the corresponding salt of the metal.
• Zinc + Hydrochloric acid —— Zinc chloride + Hydrogen
Or, Zn + 2HCl —– ZnCl2 + H2
Zinc + Sulphuric acid —— Zinc sulfate + Hydrogen
Or, Zn + H2SO4 —— ZnSO4 + H2
• Displacement Reactions
• Some metals are capable of displacing other metals from their solutions. For example – Zinc (Zn)
replaces copper from copper sulfate solutions.
Copper Sulphate + Zinc ——- Zinc Sulphate + Copper
CuSO4 + Zn —— ZnSO4 + Cu
• More active metals displace less active metals from their solution, in general. In this case, Zinc is
more reactive than Cu, so it replaces copper (Cu) from a copper sulfate solution. Implying the
rule, a more reactive metal replaces a less reactive metal, however, a less reactive metal cannot
replace a reactive metal.
• K Potassium Most reactive
• Na Sodium
• Ca Calcium
• Mg Magnesium
• Al Aluminium
• Zn Zinc Reactivity decreases
• Fe Iron
• Pb Lead
• H Hydrogen
• Cu Copper
• Hg Mercury
• Ag Silver
• Au Gold Least reactive
Alloy
• Alloys are homogeneous mixtures of metal with other metals or nonmetals. Alloy
formation enhances the desirable properties of the material, such as hardness, tensile
strength and resistance to corrosion.
• Examples of a few alloys:
• Brass: copper and zinc
• Solder: lead and tin
• Amalgam: mercury and other metal
Applications of Displacement Reaction
• Extraction of metals
• Manufacturing of steel
• Thermite reaction: Al(s)+Fe2O3(s) → Al2O3+Fe(molten)
• The thermite reaction is used in welding of railway tracks, cracked machine parts, etc.
Alloy
Alloys Compositions Uses
Brass Cu + Zn In making utensils.
Bronze Cu + Sn In making coins, bell and
utensils.
German Silver Cu + Zn + Ni In making utensils.
Gun Metal Cu + Sn + Zn + Pb In making guns, barrels,
gears and bearings.
Duralumin Al + Cu + Mg + Mn For making utensils.
Magnalium Al + Mg For frame of aeroplane.
Solder Pb + Sn For soldering.
Stainless steel Fe + Cr + Ni + C For making utensils and
surgical cutlery.
Nickel steel Fe + Ni For making electrical wire,
automobile parts.
Ores
Sl No Name of the Element Ores Chemical Formula
1 Aluminum (Al) Bauxite Al2O32H2O
Corundum Al2O3
Kryolite Na3AlF6
2 Calcium (Ca) Dolomite MgCO3CaCO3
Lime Stone CaCO3
3 Copper (Cu) Copper Glance Cu2S
Copper Pyrite CuFeS2
4 Gold (Au) Sybarite AgAuTe2
5 Iron (Fe) Hematite Fe2O3
IronPyrite FeS2
Magnetite Fe3O4
6 Lead (Pb) Anglesite PbCl2
Galena PbS
7 Silver (Ag) Silver Glance Ag2S
Horn Silver Agcl
8 Potassium (K) Karnalite KClMgCl6H2O
Salt Petre KNO3
9 Magnesium (Mg) Dolomite MgCO3CaCO3
Karnalite KClMgCl26H2O
Mercury (Hg)
10 Cinnabar HgS
11 Sodium (Na) Rock Salt NaCl
Sodium Carbonate Na2CO3
12 Zinc (Zn) Calamine ZnCo3
Extraction of Metals
• Metals of high reactivity – Na, K, Mg, Al.
• Metals of medium reactivity – Fe, Zn, Pb, Sn.
• Metals of low reactivity – Cu, Ag, Hg
Roasting
• Converts sulphide ores into oxides on heating strongly in the presence of excess air.
• It also removes volatile impurities.
• 2ZnS(s)+3O2(g)+Heat→2ZnO(s)+2SO2(g)
Calcination
• Converts carbonate and hydrated ores into oxides on heating strongly in the presence of
limited air. It also removes volatile impurities.
• ZnCO3(s)+heat→ZnO(s)+CO2(g)
• CaCO3(s)+heat→CaO(s)+CO2(g)
Electrolytic reduction:
• Down’s process: Molten NaCl is electrolysed in a special apparatus.
• At the cathode (reduction):
• Na+(molten)+e−→Na(s)
• Metal is deposited.
• At the anode (oxidation):
• 2Cl−(molten)→Cl2(g)+2e–
• Chlorine gas is liberated.
• Hall’s process: Mixture of molten alumina and a fluoride solvent usually cryolite, (Na3AlF6)
is electrolysed.
• At the cathode (reduction):
• 2Al3++6e–→ 2Al(s)
• Metal is deposited.
• At the anode (oxidation):
• 6O2– → 3O2(g)+12e–
• Oxygen gas is liberated.
Electrolytic Refining
• Metals like copper, zinc, nickel, silver, tin, gold etc., are refined electrolytically.
• Anode: impure or crude metal
• Cathode: a thin strip of pure metal
• Electrolyte: aqueous solution of metal salt
• From anode (oxidation): metal ions are released into the solution
• At cathode (reduction): the equivalent amount of metal from solution is deposited
• Impurities deposit at the bottom of the anode.
Question
Which gas is used in fire extinguisher?
(a) Carbon dioxide
(b) Hydrogen
(c) Oxygen
(d) Sulphur dioxide
Which chemical substance is used for making rat poison?
(a) Ethyl Alcohol
(b) Methyl Isocyanate
(c) Potassium Cyanide
(d) Ethyl Isocyanide
A pungent smell often present near the urinals is due to-
(a) Sulphur-di-oxide
(b) Chlorine
(c) Ammonia
(d) Urea
Which one of the following substances is used in the preservation of food stuff?
(a) Citric Acid
(b) Potassium Chloride
(c) Sodium Benzoate
(d) Sodium Chloride
Which one among the following nontoxic gases helps in formation of enzymes which ripen fruit?
(a) Acetylene
(b) Ethane
(c) Methane
(d) Carbon dioxide
• Bauxite is an ore of:
a) Iron
b) Aluminium
c) Mercury
d) Copper
• Which of the following represent the correct order of decreasing reactivity?
a) Mg > Al > Zn > Fe
b) Mg > Zn > Al > Fe
c) Al > Zn > Fe > Mg
d) Mg > Fe > Zn > Al
Question Answer
1 a
2 c
3 c
4 c
5 A
6 B
7 A
