CHAPTER – 3

METALS AND NON – METALS

Metals: Physical properties of metals, chemical properties of metals and

non-metal oxide.

Metals are the elements that conduct heat and electricity and are malleable and
ductile. Examples are Iron (Fe), Aluminium (Al), Silver (Ag), Copper (Cu),
Gold (Au), Platinum (Pt), Lead (Pb), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Calcium
(Ca) and Magnesium (Mg) etc.

Metals are the elements which form positive ions by losing electrons. Thus,
metals are known as Electropositive Elements.

Physical Properties of Metals

● Hardness: Most of the metals are hard, except alkali metals, such as

sodium, potassium, lithium, etc. are very soft metals. These can be cut by
using a knife.
● Strength: Most of the metals are strong and have high tensile strength.
Because of this, big structures are made using metals, such as copper (Cu)
and iron (Fe). (Except Sodium (Na) and potassium (K) which are soft
metals).
● State: Metals are solid at room temperature except for mercury (Hg).
● Sound: Metals produce ringing sound, so, metals are called Sonorous.
Sound of metals is also known as Metallic sound. This is the cause that
metal wires are used in making musical instruments.
● Conduction: Metals are a good conductor of heat and electricity. This is
the cause that electric wires are made of metals like copper and
aluminium.
● Malleability: Metals are malleable. This means metals can be beaten into
a thin sheet. Because of this property, iron is used in making big ships.
● Ductility: Metals are ductile. This means metals can be drawn into thin
wire. Because of this property, a wire is made of metals.
● Melting and Boiling Point: Metals have generally high melting and
boiling points. (Except sodium and potassium metals which have low
melting and boiling point.)
● Density: Most of the metals have a high density.
● Colour: Most of the metals are grey in colour. But gold and copper are
exceptions.
Chemical Properties of Metals

1. Reaction with oxygen: Most of the metals form respective metal oxides

when reacting with oxygen.
Metal + Oxygen → Metal Oxide

Examples:
Reaction of Potassium with Oxygen: Potassium metal forms potassium oxide
when reacts with oxygen.

Reaction of Sodium with Oxygen: Sodium metal forms sodium oxide when

reacts with oxygen.

Lithium, potassium, sodium, etc. are known as Alkali-metals. Alkali metals

react vigorously with oxygen.
Reaction of Copper metal with Oxygen: Copper does not react with oxygen at
room temperature but when burnt in air, it gives oxide.

Silver, gold and platinum do not combine with the oxygen of air even at high
temperature. They are the least reactive.
2. Reaction of metals with water: Metals form respective hydroxide and
hydrogen gas when reacting with water.
Metal + Water → Metal hydroxide + Hydrogen
Most of the metals do not react with water. However, alkali metals react
vigorously with water.
Reaction of Sodium metal with Water: Sodium metal forms sodium hydroxide
and liberates hydrogen gas along with lot of heat when reacting with water.

Reaction of Calcium metal with Water: Calcium forms calcium hydroxide along

with hydrogen gas and heat when react with water.

Reaction of Magnesium metal with Water: Magnesium metal reacts with water

slowly and forms magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
When steam is passed over magnesium metal, magnesium oxide and hydrogen
gas are formed.

Reaction of Aluminium metal with Water: Reaction of aluminium metal with

cold water is too slow to come into notice. But when steam is passed over
aluminium metal, aluminium oxide and hydrogen gas are produced.
2Al + 3H2O → Al2O3 + 2H2
Reaction of Zinc metal with Water: Zinc metal produces zinc oxide and
hydrogen gas when steam is passed over it. Zinc does not react with cold water.

Reaction of Iron with Water: Reaction of iron with cold water is very slow and
comes into notice after a long time. Iron forms rust (iron oxide) when reacts
with moisture present in the atmosphere. Iron oxide and hydrogen gas are
formed by passing of steam over iron metal.

Both calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are heavier than water but still float
over it: Both calcium and magnesium float over water surface because hydrogen
gas is evolved when these metals react with water. It is in the form of bubbles
which stick on the metal surface. Therefore, they float over it.

Other metals usually do not react with water or react very slowly. Lead, copper,
silver and gold do not react with steam. Thus, the order of reactivity of different
metals towards water may be written as :
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Ae > Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu > Ag > Au
3. Reaction of metals with dilute acid: Metals form respective salts when
reacting with dilute acid.
Metal + dil. acid → Metal salt + Hydrogen
Reaction of Sodium metal with dilute hydrochloric acid: Sodium metal gives
sodium chloride and hydrogen gas when react with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Reaction of Magnesium metal with dilute hydrochloric acid: Magnesium

chloride and hydrogen gas are formed when magnesium reacts with dilute
hydrochloric acid.

Reaction of Zinc with dilute sulphuric acid: Zinc sulphate and hydrogen gas are
formed when zinc reacts with dilute sulphuric acid. This method is used in the
laboratory to produce hydrogen gas.

Hydrogen (H2) gas is not evolved when metal is treated with nitric acid (HNO3):
Nitric acid is strong oxidising agent and it oxidises the hydrogen gas (H2)
liberated into water (H2O) and itself get reduced to some oxide of nitrogen like
nitrous oxide (N2O)3 nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
Copper, gold, silver are known as noble metals. These do not react with water
or dilute acids.
The order of reactivity of metal towards dilute hydrochloric acid or sulphuric
acid is in the order;
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Cu > Hg > Ag

Metal Oxides

Chemical Properties: Metal oxides are basic in nature. The aqueous solution of

metal oxides turns red litmus blue.

Reaction of Metal oxides with Water: Most of the metal oxides are insoluble
in water. Alkali metal oxides are soluble in water. Alkali metal oxides give
strong base when dissolved in water.
Reaction of Sodium oxide with Water: Sodium oxide gives sodium hydroxide
when reacts with water.

Reaction of Potassium oxide with Water: Potassium oxide gives potassium

hydroxide when reacts with water.

Reaction of Zinc oxide and Aluminium oxide: Aluminium oxide and zinc oxide
are insoluble in water. Aluminium oxide and zinc oxide are amphoteric in
nature. Amphoteric oxides are metal oxides which react with both acids as
well as bases to form salt and water.
For example – Al2O3,ZnO,PbO,SnO
It shows both acidic and basic characters. It reacts with base like acid and reacts
with an acid like a base.
When zinc oxide reacts with sodium hydroxide, it behaves like an acid. In this
reaction, sodium zincate and water are formed.

Zinc oxide behaves like a base when reacts with acid. Zinc oxide gives zinc
chloride and water on reaction with hydrochloric acid.

In a similar way, aluminium oxide behaves like a base when reacts with acid
and behaves like acid when reacts with a base.
Aluminium oxide gives sodium aluminate along with water when reacts with
sodium hydroxide.

Aluminium oxide gives aluminium chloride along with water when it reacts
with hydrochloric acid.

Reactivity Series of Metals: The order of intensity or reactivity of metal is

known as Reactivity Series. Reactivity of elements decreases on moving from
top to bottom in the given reactivity series.
In the reactivity series, copper, gold, and silver are at the bottom and hence,
least reactive. These metals are known as Noble metals. Potassium is at the top
of the series and hence, most reactive.
Reactivity of some metals are given in descending order :
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu
4. Reaction of metals with solution of other metal salts: Reaction of metals
with the solution of other metal salt is displacement reaction. In this reaction,
more reactive metal displaces the less reactive metal from its salt.
Metal A + Salt of metal B → Salt of metal A + Metal B
Examples :
Iron displaces copper from copper sulphate solution.

Similarly, aluminium and zinc displace copper from the solution of copper
sulphate.

In all the above examples, iron, aluminium and zinc are more reactive than
copper. This is why they displace copper from its salt solution.
When copper is dipped in the solution of silver nitrate, it displaces silver and
forms copper nitrate.

In the reaction, copper is more reactive than silver and hence, displaces silver
from silver nitrate solution.
Silver metal does not react with copper sulphate solution because silver is less
reactive than copper and not able to displace copper from its salt solution.

Similarly, when gold is dipped in the solution of copper nitrate, no reaction

takes place because copper is more reactive than gold.
In similar way, no reaction takes place when copper is dipped in the solution of
aluminium nitrate because copper is less reactive than aluminium.

Non-Metals: Physical Properties of non-metals, chemical properties of non-

metals, non¬metal oxides, Reaction of metal and Non-metal, Ionic bonds and
formation of an ionic bond. Non-metals are the elements that do not conduct
electricity and are neither malleable nor ductile.
Examples: Carbon (C), Sulphur (S), Phosphorous (P), Silicon (Si), Hydrogen
(H), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), Chlorine (Cl), Bromine (Br), Neon (Ne) and
Argon (Ar) etc.
Non-metals are the elements which form negative ions by gaining an electron.
Thus, non¬metals are also known as Electronegative Elements.
Physical properties of non-metals
● Hardness: Non-metals are not hard rather they are generally soft. But the
diamond is an exception; it is the hardest naturally occurring substance.
● State: Non-metals may be solid, liquid or gas.
● Lustre: Non-metals have a dull appearance. Diamond and iodine are
exceptions.
● Sonority: Non-metals are not sonorous, i.e., they do not produce a typical
sound on being hit.
● Conduction: Non-metals are a bad conductor of heat and electricity.
Graphite which is allotrope of carbon is a good conductor of electricity
and is an exception.
● Malleability and ductility: Non-metals are brittle.
● Melting and boiling point: Non-metals have generally low melting and
boiling points.
● Density: Most of the non-metals have low density.
● Colour: Non-metals are in many colours.
Carbon in the form of graphite is non-metal which conduct electricity.
Iodine is non-metal which is lustrous having a shining surface.
Carbon in the form of diamond is a non-metal which is extremely hard.
Diamond is a non-metal which has a very high melting point and boiling point.

Chemical properties of Non-metals

1. Reaction of Non-metals with Oxygen: Non-metals form respective oxide

when reacting with oxygen.
Non-metal + Oxygen → Non-metallic oxide
When carbon reacts with oxygen, carbon dioxide is formed along with the
production of heat.

When carbon is burnt in an insufficient supply of air, it forms carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide is a toxic substance. Inhaling of carbon monoxide may prove
fatal.

Sulphur gives sulphur dioxide when reacting with oxygen. Sulphur catches fire
when exposed to air.

When hydrogen reacts with oxygen it gives water.

Non-metallic Oxide: Non-metallic oxides are acidic in nature. The solution of

non-metal oxides turns blue litmus red.
Carbon dioxide gives carbonic acid when dissolved in water.

Sulphur dioxide gives sulphurous acid when dissolved in water.

Sulphur dioxide gives sulphuric acid when reacts with oxygen.

2. Reaction of Non-metal with Chlorine: Non-metal gives respective chloride

when they react with chlorine gas.
Non-metal + Chlorine → Non-metal chloride
Hydrogen gives hydrogen chloride and phosphorous gives phosphorous
trichloride when reacting with chlorine.
3. Reaction of Non-metals with Hydrogen: Non-metals reactive with
hydrogen to form covalent hydrides.
Non-metal + Hydrogen → Covalent Hydride
Sulphur combines with hydrogen to form a covalent hydride is called Hydrogen
sulphide.

Nitrogen combines with hydrogen in presence of an iron catalyst to form

covalent hydride ammonia.

Non-metals do not react with water (or steam) to evolve Hydrogen gas.
Non-metals do not react with dilute acids.
4. Reaction of Metal and Non-metal: Many metals form ionic bonds when
they react with non-metals. Compounds so formed are known as Ionic
Compounds.

Ions: Positive or negative charged atoms are known as ions. Ions are formed
because of loss or gain of electrons. Atoms form ions obtain by the electronic
configuration of the nearest noble gas.
Positive ion: A positive ion is formed because of the loss of electrons by an
atom.
Following are some examples of positive ions:
Sodium forms sodium ion because of the loss of one electron. Because of the
loss of one electron, one positive charge comes over sodium.

Magnesium forms positive ion because of the loss of two electrons. Two
positive charges come over magnesium because of loss of two electrons.

Negative ion: A negative ion is formed because of the gain of an electron.

Some examples are given below :
Chlorine gains one electron in order to achieve a stable configuration. After the
loss of one electron, chlorine gets one negative charge over it forming chlorine
ion.
Ionic Bonds: Ionic bonds are formed because of transfer of electrons from
metal to non¬metal. In this course, metals get positive charge because of
transfer of electrons and non-metal gets negative charge because of acceptance
of electrons. In other words, bond formed between positive and negative ion is
called Ionic Bond.
Since, a compound is electrically neutral, so to form an ionic compound,
negative and positive both ions must be combined.
Some examples are given below:
Formation of Sodium Chloride (NaCl): In sodium chloride, sodium is a metal
(alkali metal) and chlorine is a non-metal.
Atomic number of sodium = 11
Electronic configuration of sodium : 2, 8, 1
Number of electrons in outermost orbit = 1
Valence electrons = Electrons in outermost orbit = 1
Atomic number of chlorine = 17
Electronic configuration of chlorine : 2, 8, 7
Electrons in outermost orbit = 7
Therefore, valence electrons = ?

Sodium has one valence electron and chlorine has seven valence electrons.
Sodium requires losing one electron to obtain stable configuration and chlorine
requires gaining one electron in order to obtain stable electronic configuration.
Thus, in order to obtain stable configuration, sodium transfers one electron to
chlorine. After loss of one electron, sodium gets one positive charge (+) and
chlorine gets one negative charge after gain of one electron. Sodium chloride is
formed because of transfer of electrons. Thus, ionic bond is formed between
sodium and chlorine. Since, sodium chloride is formed because of ionic bond,
thus, it is called Ionic compound. In similar way, potassium chloride (KCl) is
formed.
Properties of Ionic compound
● Ionic compounds are solid. Ionic bond has a greater force of attraction
because of which ions attract each other strongly. This makes ionic
compounds solid.
● Ionic compounds are brittle.
 ● Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points because force of
attraction between ions of ionic compounds is very strong.
● Ionic compounds generally dissolve in water.
● Ionic compounds are generally insoluble in organic solvents; like
kerosene, petrol, etc.
● Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity in the solid state.
● The solution of ionic compounds in water conduct electricity. This
happens because ions present in the solution of ionic compound facilitate
the passage of electricity by moving towards opposite electrodes.
● Ionic compounds conduct electricity in the molten state.

categories on the basis of properties: Metals: Iron, Zinc, Copper, Aluminium

etc.
Non – metals: Chlorine, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur etc.
Apart from metals and non-metals some elements show properties of both
metals and non – metals,
e.g. Silicon, Arsenic, Germanium .They are called metalloids

Comparison of physical and chemical properties of metals and non –

metals:-
Sr. Property Met Non-Metals
No als
.
1 Physical Metals are solid at Non-metals
State room temperature. generally exist
Except mercury as solids and
and gallium. gases, except
Bromine.
2 Melting Metals generally Non-metals have
and have high m.pt low m.pt and
boiling and b.pt except b.pt except
points gallium and diamond and
cesium. graphite.
Density Generally high. Generally low.
3
4 Malleab Malleable and Neither
ility and ductile. malleable nor
Ductility ductile.
5 Electrica Good conductors of Generally poor
l and heat and electricity. conductors of
 thermal heat and
conducti electricity except
vity graphite.
6 Luster Poses shining Do not have luster
luster. except iodine.
7 Sonorous Give sonorous Does not give
sound sound sonorous sound.
when struck.
8 Hardness Generally hard Solid non-metals
except Na, K are generally soft
except
diamond.

Comparison of Chemical Properties of Metals and Non-metals:-

1 React Metal + Oxygen Non-metal +

ion Metal oxide Oxygen 
with 4Na(s) + O2(g)  Non-metal
Oxyg 2Na2O(s) oxide C +
en 4Al(s) + 3O2(g)  O2  CO2
2Al2O3 S + O2  SO2
Metals form basic Non-metals form
oxides Zn and Al acidic oxides
form amphoteric CO and H2O are
oxides (they show the neutral oxides(they
properties of both are neither acidic
acidic and basic nor basic in nature)
oxides)
Most of the metal Non-
oxides are insoluble metal oxides are
in water Some of soluble in water
them dissolve to They dissolve in
form Alkali water to form acids
Na2O(s) + H2O(l)  SO2 + H2O  H2SO3
2NaOH(aq)
2 Reacti Metals react with Non-metals do not
on water to form metal react with water,
with oxides or metal steam to evolve
water hydroxide and H2 gas hydrogen gas.
is released. Because Non-
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l)  metals cannot give
2NaOH + electrons to
H2( hydrogen in water
g) so that it can be
+ heat released as H2 gas.
3 Reacti Metal + Acid  Metal Non-metals do not
on salt react with acids to
with + Hydrogen release H2 gas
dilute
Acids Reason- Non-
HCl
metals cannot
Mg(s) + loose electrons and
2HCl(aq)  give it to
MgCl2(aq) + Hydrogen ions of
H2(g) H2SO4 acids so that the
2Na(s) + gas is released.
H2SO4  Mn + 2HNO3 
Na2SO4(aq) Mn(NO3)2 + H2
+H2(g) HNO3 H2 gas from HNO3
Metal + HNO3  H2
gas is not displaced.
Reason- HNO3 is
strong oxidizing
agent.
4 Reaction When metals react When non-metals
with with salt react
salt solution, more with salt solution,
soluti reactive metal will more reactive
ons displace a less non-metal will
reactive metal from displace a less
its salt solution. reactive non-
metal from its salt
CuSO4(aq) solution.
+ Zn(s)  2NaBr(aq) + Cl2(g)
ZnSO4(aq) + 
Cu(s) 2NaCl(aq) + Br2(aq)
5 Reaction Metal + Chlorine  Non-metal +
 Metal Chlorine 
25

with Chloride Non-metal

Chlor ionic bond is formed. Chloride covalent
ine Therefore Ionic bond is formed.
compound is Therefore covalent
obtained. compound is
obtained.
2Na H2(g) + Cl2  2HCl
+ Cl2  2NaCl
6 Reacti Metals react with Non-metals react
on hydrogen to form with hydrogen to
with metal hydride form hydrides
Hydro This reaction takes
gen place only for most H2(g) + S(l) 
reactive metals. H2S(g)

2Na(s)
+ H2(g)  2NaH(s)

Properties of ionic compounds

1. Physical nature:solid and hard due to strong force of attraction.
(generally brittle)

2. Melting point and boiling point:have high M.P and B.P, as

large amount of heat energy is required to break strong ionic
attraction.

3. Solubility: soluble in water and insoluble in kerosene and pertrol.

4. Conduction of electricity:ionic compounds in solid state does not

conduct electricity.

Reason—Ions can not move due to rigid solid structure. Ionic

compounds conduct electricity in molten state.

Reason-- Ions can move freely since the electrostatic forces of

attraction between the oppositely charged ions are overcome due
to heat.