1

NON - METALS AND THEIR COMPOUNDS

INTRODUCTION
Non-metals are a small group of elements located in the upper right-
hand corner of the periodic table.
DEFINITION
A non - metal is an element which ionizes by electron gain. They are
electron acceptors.
Cl2 + 2e- 2Cl-
O2 + 2e- O2-
NOTE: Hydrogen, a non-metal is the only exception to this definition because it
[is
an electron donor] ionizes by loss of electrons.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
 Non-metals are generally non-conductors of heat and electricity.
 They have relatively low densities. This is why carbon or sulphur will
float on water.
 They generally have low melting points.
 They may be gases e.g. O2, H2 etc. liquids e.g. Bromine or light
solids e.g. carbon under normal situations.
 They are usually brittle with low tensile strength.
 They do not give a sonorous sound when hit.
 They are neither malleable nor ductile.
 They are non-lustrous i.e dull in appearance .e.g. gold, silver,
aluminium
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. Non-metals ionize by gain of electrons. They form anions in solution and are
usually electronegative.
Cl2 + 2e- 2Cl-
2. Non-metals form mainly acidic oxides (acid anhydrides) which dissolve in
water to form acids.
S + O2 -------------- SO2
acidic oxide
SO2+ H2O H2SO3
Acid anhydride acid
3. Non-metals are electron acceptors and hence are oxidizing agents.
S + 2e- S2-
Cl2 + 2e- 2Cl-
4. Non-metals form many stable hydrides which are purely covalent
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e.g. NH3, CH4, HCl, HBr e.t.c

5. Non-metals form covalent chlorides which are typically non electrolytes
e.g. PCl3
6. Non-metals are usually deposited at the anodes during electrolysis.

HYDROGEN
[ WATER PRODUCER/WATER FORMER ]
INTRODUCTION:
 Hydrogen is the lightest of the elements.
 It consists of a nucleus with only one proton – without any neutron.
 It exists as a gaseous diatomic molecule, H2 under normal conditions of
temperature and pressure.
ISOTOPES OF HYDROGEN
Two of the three isotopes of Hydrogen are stable [Protium and Deuterium] while
Tritium is radioactive.
1
H or H Ξ Hydrogen or Protium
1

2
H or D Ξ Heavy Hydrogen or Deuterium
1

3
H or T Ξ Radioactive or Tritium
1
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OXIDATION NUMBER:
+1 in most of its compounds except in Hydrides where it is -1.
THE POSITION OF HYDROGEN IN THE PERIODIC TABLE
Hydrogen is usually considered a family of its own when it is placed at the top
central position of the first period of the periodic table, although it shares some
similarities with the halogens and the alkali metals of Group I.
Properties of Hydrogen Similar to Group 1 ElementS
 Hydrogen is monovalent having one electron on its outermost shell
 Hydrogen is electropositive. It forms positive ions by losing its
electron which is similar to Na+ and other Group I metallic elements.
Properties of Hydrogen DIFFERENT FROM Group 1
Elements
 It is a non-metal and has a high ionization energy
 It is a gaseous element and a non-conductor of electricity unlike the
Group I elements
 Hydrogen forms a neutral oxide with oxygen unlike Group I metals
which form basic oxides.
PROPERTIES OF HYDROGEN SIMILAR TO GROUP VII
ELEMENTS
 Hydrogen is a gas. Therefore its physical state is similar to those of
fluorine and chlorine.
 It forms negative ions, H- in hydrides such as NaH, CaH2 etc in the
same way as chlorine in NaCl and Bromine in CaBr.
 It exists as diatomic molecules, H2 like the group VII,
 Hydrogen has the capacity of covalently bonding with itself to give
neutral hydrogen molecules like the halogens in group VII.
Properties of Hydrogen DIFFERENT FROM Group 1
Elements
 Oxides of halogens are acidic while that of hydrogen, [H20 ] is neutral.
 Although hydrogen forms covalent bonds like group VII elements, but
unlike group VIII elements, it is colourless and less reactive.
 The electronegativity of Hydrogen is small when compared with those
of the halogens.
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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
 Hydrogen is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas.
 It is neutral to moist litmus paper
 It is the lightest gas known being 14.4 times less dense than air.
 It is insoluble in water
 It has a very low belling point of – 2530C
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1.OXIDIZING PROPERTY:
This involves the reaction with active metals. In these reactions, Hydrogen is reduced. It is acting
as an O. A.
a]REACTION WITH ACTIVE METALS:
Hydrogen reacts with highly reactive metals [e.g Na, Li, Ca] to give the
corresponding hydrides.
Ca + H2 CaH2
2Na + H2 2NaH
2Li + H2 2LiH
2.REDUCING PROPERTIES
This is essentially the reaction of Hydrogen with Metallic Oxides and Non -metals
(a)REACTION WITH METAL OXIDES:
When hydrogen gas is passed over heated oxides of Cu, Zn, Fe, Sn, Pb or
Ag in a combustion tube, it forms the metal as the residue.
CuO + H2 Cu + H20(g)
Black Brown
PbO + H2 Pb + H20(g)
Yellow Grey
Fe203 + 3H2 2Fe + 3H20(g)
Brown Grey
ZnO + H2 Zn + H20(g)
Fe304 + 4H2 3Fe + 4H20(g)
Tri-Irontetraoxoxide
Note: The oxides of Na, K, and Ca cannot be reduced by H 2 because
they are strongly ionic.
(b) REACTION WITH NON - METALS.
(i) REACTION WITH HALOGENS
Hydrogen burns in a gas jar of chlorine [or Bromine or iodine] in the
presence of sunlight as the catalyst, to produce hydrogen Chloride gas.
H2(g) + Cl2 2HCl(g)
(ii)REACTION WITH MOLTEN SULPHUR
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When Hydrogen gas is passed into a test tube of molten sulphur, a colourless
gas with rotten egg smell, H2S is evolved.
H2 + S H2S
(iii)REACTION WITH NITROGEN:
Hydrogen reacts with Nitrogen under high pressure, at a moderate
temperature, and in the presence of finely divided iron as a catalyst, to
produce ammonia.
3H2 + N2 ------------- Fe 2NH3.
IV] REACTION WITH OXYGEN:
Pure hydrogen gas burns with a pale – blue flame to produce steam.
2H2(g) + O2(g) ----------------- 2H2O(g)
3. HYDROGENATION REACTION:
Hydrogen undergoes addition reactions with unsaturated hydrocarbons,
alkenes and alkynes to give the corresponding saturated alkanes.
H2 + C2H4 C2H6
ethene ethane
2H2 + C2H2 C2H6
ethyne ethane
4. REACTION WITH CARBON (II) OXIDE
Hydrogen gas reacts with carbon (ii) oxide gas at 300oC and high pressure
to produce Methanol.
CO + 2H2 ------------------ CH3OH
LABORATORY PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN.
1. By the action of Dilute Acids on Reactive Metals
 Zinc granules are placed in a flask and dil. H 2SO4 or Dil HCl is added
to cover the Zinc.
 There is effervescence producing hydrogen gas which is collected
over water. The resulting solution in the flask is warm and colourless.
 This is Displacement or REDOX reaction.
Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) +H2 (g)
Zn(s) + HCl(aq) →
ZnCl2 (aq) +H2 (g)
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SEE TEACHERS NOTE

OTHER SUITABLE METHODS

Hydrogen can also be prepared in the laboratory in the following ways,
By the action of Sodium hydroxide on zinc metal or aluminium.
Zn(s) + 2NaOH(aq) →
Na2ZnO2(s) + H2(g)
2Al(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 2H2O(l) → 2NaAlO2(s) + 3H2 (g)
By the Action of steam on heated metals e.g. Iron, Magnesium.
3Fe(s) + 4H2O(g) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
The hydrogen produced is collected over water. This method can be used to
obtain a large quantity of hydrogen cheaply.
By the Action of cold water on reactive metals.
When a small piece of sodium metal is dropped into water coloured with red
litmus paper, it melts and gradually dissolves in water turning red litmus
paper blue due to the formation of sodium hydroxide.
Hydrogen gas is evolved and is collected in a test tube inverted over the
metal.
2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2
INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN
Hydrogen can be prepared industrially by different methods:
BY ELECTROLYSIS:
Large quantities of hydrogen gas is obtained as a by – product during the
electrolysis of acidified water; Brine or Dil NaOH.
This method is efficient in an environment where electricity is cheap.
FROM NATURAL GAS. [E.g methane ]:
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Methane [CH4] is one of the main constituents of natural gas.

When natural gas is heated to a temperature of 1000 ℃ [thermal cracking]
hydrogen is produced.
o
CH4(g) 1000 C 2H2(g) + C(s)
→

FROM HYDROCARBONS
When methane is mixed with steam and heated to a temperature of 800 ℃ in the
presence of nickel catalyst, synthesis gas [CO(g) + H2(g) ] is produced.
CH4(g) + H2O(g) →¿ CO(g) + 3H2(g)
More steam is added to the mixture in the presence of iron (iii) oxide catalyst at

CO(g) + 3H2(g) + H2O(g) ⇋

450oC
CO2(g) + 4H2(g)
The CO2(g) is removed by absorption in water or any alkali such as Sodium
hydroxide [NaOH] solution.
FROM WATER GAS; [BOSCH PROCESS]
Water gas is mixed with excess steam and passed over Iron (III) oxide, Fe 2O3 or

CO(g) + H2 (g) + H2O ⇌

chromium (iii) oxide as a catalyst at 723k.
CO2 (g) +2H2 (g)
CO2 is dissolved in water under pressure of 30atm or absorbed by caustic soda,
leaving a good yield of hydrogen gas.

LABORATORY TEST FOR HYDROGEN

[Hydrogen Flame Test]
When a lighted splint is introduced into a gas jar of hydrogen, it
explodes with a characteristic “Pop” sound. [due to the violent
combination of hydrogen with oxygen in air.]
USES OF HYDROGEN
 It is used in the synthesis of ammonia. The ammonia formed is used in the
manufacture of fertilizers, drugs, plastics, wares, dyes among others.
 It is used in the hardening of vegetable and animal oils for the manufacture
of Margarine, candles, soap among others.
 It is used to inflate airships and balloons due to its very low density and
lightness. Helium is however preferred to hydrogen in filling balloons b/c it
will not burn in the presence of air.
 In oxy-hydrogen flames, small quantities of hydrogen are required to
produce high temperature that can melt metals.
 It is used in the synthesis of methanol and Hydrochloric acid.
 Gaseous hydrogen is a constituent of coal gas and water gas, and liquid
hydrogen is used as rocket fuel.
 It is used in converting coal to crude oil.
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HYDRIDES OF HYDROGEN
Hydrogen combines with other elements to form binary and covalent hydrides.
The hydrides of elements change from ionic solids to covalent molecules on
moving from left to right along a period in the periodic table. The variation is due
to an increase in electronegativity along the period.
1] HYDRIDES OF ELEMENTS IN PERIOD 2:
These are LiH, BeH2, BH3,CH4,NH3,H2O,HF:
 LiH, and BeH2 are covalent solids. Hydrogen is more electronegative while
the bonds have ionic character.
 BH3 is purely covalent. Boron and hydrogen have similar electronegativity.
 CH4 is covalent and gaseous. Carbon is more electronegative. The bonds
have no partial charges.
 In NH3, H2O, and HF the bonds are partially ionic with hydrogen atoms
partially positive. NH3 is an alkaline gas; H2O is a neutral liquid; while HF is
an acidic liquid. There exist hydrogen bonds between their molecules.
2. HYDRIDES OF ELEMENTS IN PERIOD 3:
These are NaH; MgH2; AlH3; SiH4; PH3; H2S; and HCl.
 In solid NaH, the bond is purely ionic
 In solid MgH2 the bonds have ionic character, but it is a covalent solid while
AlH3 is an unstable solid.
 NaH; MgH2; AlH3 react with water to liberate hydrogen gas and the
corresponding hydroxides.
 SiH4 is covalent and does not react with water.
 PH3 is covalent with Hydrogen and Phosphorous having the same
electronegativity. It reacts with water to form a weakly acidic solution.
 H2S gas and HCl gas, the covalent bonds are partially ionic with hydrogen
atoms partially positive. H2S gas dissolves in water to produce a weakly
acidic solution, while HCl gas, dissolves to form a strongly acidic solution.

SEE TEACHERS NOTE