D.A.

V POLICE PUBLIC SCHOOL , GURUGRAM

CHAPTER - METALS AND NON METALS

NOTES

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 gray 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 it reacts with oxygen.
4 K+ O2 -> 2K2O
● Reaction of Sodium with Oxygen: Sodium metal forms sodium oxide when it reacts with oxygen.
 4Na. + O2 -> 2Na2O
● 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.
2Cu+ O2. → CuO
● Silver, gold and platinum do not combine with the oxygen of air even at high temperature. They are the least
reactive.
● Oxides of metals are basic in nature .Metallic oxides react with water for base.
Na2O. + H2O. —> NaOH
But Aluminium Oxide and Zinc Oxide are amphoteric in nature
Al2O3 +6 HCl —> 2 AlCl3 + H2O

In this reaction aluminium oxide behaves as a basic oxide .

In this reaction aluminium oxide behaves as an acidic oxide .

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 a lot of heat when reacting with water.
Na + H2O → NaOH + H2 + Heat
● Reaction of Calcium metal with Water: Calcium forms calcium hydroxide along with hydrogen gas and heat
when react with water
Ca + H2O —> Ca ( OH) 2 + H2
The heat produced in this reaction is less which is not sufficient to burn the hydrogen gas which is formed. The piece
of calcium metal starts floating in water because the bubbles of hydrogen gas formed during the reaction stick
to its surface. The reaction of calcium metal with water is F less violent. So, calcium is less reactive than sodium.

● Reaction of Magnesium metal with Water: Magnesium metal reacts with water slowly and forms magnesium
hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
Mg +2 H2O → Mg( OH)2 + H2

When steam is passed over magnesium metal, magnesium oxide and hydrogen gas are formed.
Mg +2 H2O( Steam) → MgO + H2

Metals like aluminium , Zinc and Iron do not react with either cold water or hot water .They react with steam to form a
metal oxide and Hydrogen.
● 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( steam) → 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.
Zn. + H2O(steam) → ZnO + H2
● 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.
Fe + H2O ( Steam)--> Fe3O4. + H2

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.
2Na +2 HCl. → 2NaCl. + H2

● Reaction of Magnesium metal with dilute hydrochloric acid: Magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas are formed
when magnesium reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid.
Mg + 2HCl. —> MgCl2 + H2

● 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.
Zn. + H2SO4. —>. ZnSO4. + H2

Copper do not react with HCl at all .This shows that copper is even less reactive than H2

● 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.
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

Reaction of metals with solution of other metal salts: Reaction of metals

Fe + CuSO4. —>. FeSO4. + Cu

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

When copper is dipped in the solution of silver nitrate, it displaces silver and forms copper nitrate.

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.

5. Reaction with chlorine :Metals like Na, Ca, Mg , Al , Zn , Fe and Cu react with chlorine and form metallic chlorides

2 Na + Cl2 —> 2 NaCl

6. Reaction of metals with Hydrogen:-Most of the metals do not react with hydrogen but some highly reactive metals
like sodium , potassium , calcium and magnesium react with hydrogen and form metal hydrides.

2Na + H2 —> 2 NaH