Metals

Outline and examine some uses of different metals through

history, including contemporary uses, as uncombined metals or as
alloys.
In early history, only metals that were found free in nature was
used as ancient people had no means of metallic separation. The most
basic metal was copper and used for tools and weapons, as it was
common to ding and free in nature. Gold was also free, and was used
in decoration due to its attractive appearance. Extracting its
compounds from rocks in the last 200 years, electrolysis of metals
such as aluminium and sodium, discovered later iron. Metals are
useful for their properties but sometimes do not fit our needs,
therefore alloys are used.
Describe the use of common allow including steel, brass, and
solder and explain how these relate to their properties.
Steel: This is an alloy of iron (80%), chromium (18%) and nickel
(2%). Used in machines or cutlery. By adding carbon you can make
steel harder
Brass: Alloy of copper (65%) and since (35%). Resistant to corrosion
so used as screws, bolts nails etc. Also has an attractive finish so used
to decorate such as doorknobs or doorknockers?
Solder: Alloy of tin (63%) and lead (37%). Melting point is lower than
each metal in pure form. Used in electronics and wire joiner.
The presence of a small second metal to form an alloy can alter
some of its physical properties significantly, to be used for appropriate
means.
Explain why energy input is necessary to extract metal from its
ore
Common techniques used to refine metals are roasting,
smelting, and electrolysis.
In roasting, high-energy input is needed to change the state of
the ore and cause a chemical reaction. Sulfide ores the sulfides are
oxidised and the metal is converted to a metallic oxide.
Smelting ores such as iron ore (Fe2, 08) are heated to high
temperatures in a blast furnace in the presence of a variety of other
materials that chemically separate the oxide from its ore.
Electrolysis- high temperature electrolysis
Energy is needed for a chemical reaction

 Identify why there are more metals available for people to use
now than there were 200 years ago
Now there are many ways to extract metals from its compounds
and ores creating a while new range or pure metals that werent
available 200 years ago due to no means of extraction
Describe the observable charges when metal reacts with dilute
acid, water and oxygen
Oxygen: metal+oxygen=metal oxide
Metals exhibit very varied reactivates in their reactions with oxygen.
The more reactive metals give off large amounts of heat and light and
form into a soft oxide that is usually dull in colour.
Water: metal + water= metal hydroxide + hydrogen
Most metals undergo no chemical reaction in water. Lithium,
potassium, sodium and calcium do react with water to form hydrogen
and a metal hydroxide
Acid: metal + acid = salt + hydrogen
Salt is not metallic. Covalent bond, dull, soft. Eg zinc + hydrochloric
acid = zinc chloride + hydrogen
Describe and justify the criteria used to place metals into an order
of activity based on their ease of reaction with oxygen, water and
dilute acids
The different reactions of metals with dilute acids, water and oxygen
can be used to draw up a list or sequence of the metals in order of
decreasing reactivity. This list is called the activity series of metals. In
this list, the metals that react most vigorously are placed at the top of
the list, white metals that react least are placed at the bottom
Identify the reaction of metals with acids as requiring the transfer
of electrons
During the reaction between a metal and an acid the metal
dissolves as it loses electrons and forms positively charged ions.
Hydrogen ions from the acid gain electrons to form hydrogen gas. AS
this reaction involves a transfer of electrons, not just a break of bonds,
it is an oxidation- reduction reaction. These two simultaneous
reactions can be represented by half equations. Oxidation is loss of
electrons, reduction is gain of electrons. OILRIG.
Outline examples of the selection of metals for different based on
their reactivity, with particular emphasis on current developments
in the use of metals.
The uses of particular metals are determined not only by its

physical properties but also by its reactivity. Gold, silver, and

platinum are quite un reactive and undergo little or no corrosion
because of this. Because these metals do not tarnish readily they retain
their shiny lustre and make attractive jewellery. Gold is the least
reactive of all metals. This has been known since ancient times and
throughout history has been used to make jewellery and fine
ornaments. Because it is an excellent conductor of electricity and does
not tarnish (low thermal expansion as well) it is also widely used in
electrical connections in computer and electrical circuits. Gold also
has several applications in space industry as it is an excellent reflector
of infrared radiation and is chemically inert. Objects in space are fold
plated to reflect thermal radiation.
Magnesium is a highly reactive metal. It is used in the cathodic
protection of less reactive metals to protect them from corrosion. Steel
ships and wharves may have magnesium large blocks attached to
them. Since magnesium, is more reactive than the iron in the steel it
will corrode first, thus protecting the ship of wharf from corrosion.
When magnesium barns in oxygen it produces a bright white light.
Because of the intensity of this light magnesium was used in
photographic flashbulbs and it continues to be used in modern
fireworks.
The reactivity of zinc also makes it suitable for use in batteries
such as any cells and button cells. In these, the zinc is oxidised and the
electrons it loses travels through an external circuit producing on
electric current.
Outline the relationship between the relative activities of metals
and their positions on the periodic table
The following generalisations between the relationship between
the periodic table and the activity series have been made.
1) The most reactive metals are found in group 1 (K, Na) and group 2
(Ca, Mg)
2) Group 3 metals are less reactive than groups 1 and 2, although
some transition metals (Fe, Zn) have similar reactive to group 3.
3) The soft metals at the bottom of group 3 are less reactive than
group 3 metals.
4) The least reactive metals are (Ag, Au) or in the soft, heavy metal
region (Pb)
Identify the importance of first ionisation energy in determining
the relative reactivity of metals

Brief of ionisation: electrons can be removed from metals in the

gaseous state by placing them in strong electric fields. As the field
strength increases, the electrons are removed sequentially from the
atom. The first electrons to be lost are from the balance shell as they
are most loosely bound electrons. To remove electrons from inner
shells requires more energy as they are more strongly bound to the
nucleus. The first ionisation energy is the energy required to remove
the first electron from the gaseous atom.
Very active metals have low ionisation energies (K, Mg)
whereas noble metals such as gold have high ionisation energies.
However there is no simple relationship between ionisation energy
and activity serried order (eg, zinc-high ionisation energy, fairly
reactive).
Within periodic tables group 1 and 2 however, the reactivity of
metals increases down a group as ionisation energy decreases.
Identify an appropriate model that has been developed to describe
atomic structure.
The atomic model changed drastically over time. In 1777
Antoine Lavoisier proved that the mass of the products in a reaction
are equal to the mass of the reactants (first quantitative chemistry)
John Dalton (1766-1844) made atomic theory that
1) matter is made of indivisible atoms
2) all atoms of an element are identified
3) atoms of different elements differ in weight and chemical
properties
4) Atoms are neither created nor destroyed
5) Atoms of different elements combine in simple whole numbers to
form compounds
In 1897, J.J Thomson discovered the electron and in 1904 proposed
the plum pudding model. A sphere of positive electricity with
electrons scattered in it.
In 1911 Rutherford proved Thomson wrong with his experiment of
firing alpha particles at a sheet of gold paper. By doing this he proved
that an atom is mostly empty space with an extremely small yet
massive core, the nucleus, and electrons orbit it.
In 1914 Niel Bohr introduced the concept of electron shells, stability
and radiation being caused from jumping electrons
In 1926 Erwin Schridinger replaced shells with clouds
The current atomic structure is :
1) Protons are positively charged particles that are found in the central

nucleus of an atom (1 amu)

2) Neutrons are neutral particle that are also found in the nucleus (1
amu)
3) Electrons are negatively charged particles that are found outside the
nucleons. They exist in energy levels of shells that surround the
nucleus. The mass of an electron is minuscule. (0.00055 amu)
1 amu= 1.661x10^-27 kg
Outline the history of the development of the periodic table,
including its origins, the original data used to construct it an the
predictions made after its construction.
The first scientific discover of an element was in 1649 and was
phosphorus. In 1789 Antoine Lavoisier published a table of 33
elements, which contained compounds as well. He divided the table
into non-metal and metals a-d started the classification of elements. In
1829 Joltan Dobereiner arranged elements exhibiting similar
characteristics into triads. He also stated that the atomic weight of the
middle element in the triad was the average of the other two. He then
published his own version of the periodic table based on this.
In 1862 Alexander Emily Beguyer De Chanecutious recognised that
elemental properties reoccur every seven elements. In 1863, using
sixty-two elements of known atomic mass, John Newlands observed
that the properties of the elements varied periodically with their
atomic masses. He stated that the eight elements starting from a given
one is a kind of repetition of the first. He published his own periodic
table.
-1870 Mendeleev (Demitris) arranged the elements in horizontal rows
in order of increasing atomic mass. Elements with similar properties
were arranged in vertical columns in the table. As a result of his work,
Mendeleev proposed his periodic table law, which stated that the
properties of elements are periodic functions of their atomic masses.
The feature that made Mendeleev genions was that he made accurate
predictions of elements that were not yet discovered, by leaving gaps
in his table. Germanium was one element tat Mendeleev predicted.
This is he basis of the periodic table.
-1910 Henry Mosely changed this, by organising elements in
increasing atomic number rather than mass. He started that when the
elements are listed in order of increasing atomic number, similar
chemical properties reoccur periodically.

 Explain the relationship between the position of elements in the

periodic table, and:
-electrical conductivity
-ionisation energy
-atomic radius
-melting point
-bonding point
-combing power (valency)
-Electronegativity
-reactivity
Property
Atomic radius
Electrical conductivity
Electronegativity
Melting and boiling
point

Ionisation Energy

Trends across a periodic Trends down a group

Decreases
Increases
Decreases
Groups 1-3 decreases
Groups 4-5 increases
Increases
Decreases
Increases from group 1 Groups 1, 2 decreases
to group 4 and then
Transition metal
decreases
increase
group 3, 4 decrease
group 5-8 increase
Increases
Decreases

Valence and reactivity: the most reactive metals are found in the lower left
corner of the table. These active metals have valence electrons that are very
loosely bound to the atom.
Most reactive non metals are found in the top right corner of the table.
Define the mole as the number of atoms in exactly 12 g of carbon
12 (Avagadros number)
A mole can be though of a dozen. Its a number of atoms. The mole
number is 6.022x10^-23 atoms
that is how many carbon-12 atoms, are required to make 12g of the
element, carbon-12. We can show the working
1 amu+1.661 x10^-27kg
Carbon-12 has 12 amu therefore the mass of carbon = 12 x
1.661x10^-24=1.9926x10^-23
so, x atoms x 1.9926 x 10^-23 g/atom =12g
Compare mass changes in samples of metals when they combine
with oxygen

The total mass of a system remains constant during a chemical

reaction. Masses are transferred from molecules. Stoichiometry is the
qualitative description of the portions by moles of the substances in a
chemical reaction. The stoichiometry of a reaction is the relative
qualities as they are represented by the co efficient of the balanced
equation. During a magnesium and oxygen reaction 48.62g of
magnesium is present, as well as 32g of oxygen. At the end of the
reaction, two separate magnesium oxide molecules will be formed,
with a total mass of 48.62 + 32 = 80.62 grams. Obeys law of mass
conservation.
Describe the contribution of Gay-Lussiac to the understanding of
gaseous reactions and applying this to an understanding of the
mole concept.
Experiments measuring the combining volumes of gases left to
an improvement in our understanding of the formulas of substances
and the development of the mole concept. Lussiac found a simple
relationship between the volumes of gases involved in chemical
reactions. His law of combining gas volumes is:
The ratio of the volume of gases involved in a reaction if
measured of the same temperature and pressure are expressed by
small, white numbers.
In attempt to show how the volume of a gas is varied with the
amount of fas present. Avogadro put forward the following hypothesis
due to confusion over diatomic molecules such as hydrogen and
oxygen.
Equal volumes of all gases, measured at the same temperature
and pressure, contain equal numbers of molecules.
Eg. 2H2(g)+O2(g)=2H2O
This means that in 2L of hydrogen gas there must be the same number
of molecules as there are in 2L of oxygen gas. It also means that the
greater the volume of gas, the greater the number of molecules it will
contain.
Simple number ratios occurred because the molecules of the
gases combined in simpler number ratios, the co efficient in the
equations. It is possible to extend Avogadros hypothesis to a
consideration of the number of moles of gases. Since equal volumes
of gases contain equal number of particles, it follows that these equal
volumes of gases also contain the same number of moles of gas.

 Recount Avogadros law and describe its importance in

developing the mole concept
Equal volumes of all gases, measured of the same temperature
and pressure, contain equal number of molecules.
Thus, the number of molecules in a specific volume of gas is
independent of the size or mass of the gas molecular hydrogen and
nitrogen would contain the same number of molecules. Equilin mole.
Distinguish between empirical formulae and molecular formulae.
Molecular is what elements and the exact number of elements
in a molecule.
Empirical is the simplest ratio of the number of elements in a
molecule.
Define the terms mineral ore with reference to economic and noneconomic deposits of natural resources.
Mineral: to be classified as a mineral a substance must be a solid and
have a crystalline structure. Naturally occurring homogenous
substances with a definite chemical composition. A mineral is an
element of chemical compound that is normally crystalline and that
has been formed as a results of geological process.
Ores: naturally occurring deposits that are mixtures of minerals from
which a substance, usually metal can be economically extracted.
Describe the relationship between the commercial prices of
common metals, their actual abundances and relative costs of
production.
A metals abundance and cost of extraction/ production affects
the metal final commercial prices
Abundance: The mineral must be sufficiently concentrated in the ore
body to make it economical to mince. If the concentration is low. It
may be non economical and unable to mine. If the metal is abundant,
its price would be lower than if it was scarce.
Cost of production: companies need to determine the cost of minging,
milling and extracting the metal form the ore. Some metals are more
expensive to extract than others due to the higher energy cost
involved. Aluminium is more expensive to manufacture than copper
due to the high cost of the electrolytic process used to make
aluminium. This would factor in the final price (Au>Cu),
transportation costs also may vary, as some would be mined in remote
areas.

 Explain why ores are non-renewable resources

Ores are non-renewable resources formed during the long geological
evolution of our planet and are limited.
Describe the separation processes, chemical reactions and energy
considerations involved in the extraction of copper from one of its
ores.
There are many steps in the extraction of copper. The following
process is to extract copper from Chalcopyrite (CuFeS)
Mining and crushing: mined ore is ~0.5% copper. Help free copper
form unwanted rock (gangue).
Froth flotation: Ore now 0.3mm is mixed with water and other
collection (oils) in froth flotation tank. Copper minerals adhere to
bubble and are collected as slurry. Now collection is ~30% copper.
Roasting and smelting: dried copper mixed with coal, lime and sand
and roasted (1000 degrees) in oxygen-enriched air. Forms a mixture of
sulfides and oxides of copper and iron. Sand and iron acts as a flux to
remove iron impurities as a molten slay of iron (II) silicate. At the end
of roasting stage copper is copper molten (50-10% pure). Mixed with
more sand and smelted in the furnace to form molten blister copper
metal (98% pure). Air blown through molten copper of 1400 degrees
to convert sulfides to sulphur dioxide of copper is covered in
blisters due to escaping air and sulphur dioxide.
Recount the steps taken to recycle Aluminium
1) Establish local collection centres for waste aluminium products
2) Transport waste Aluminium to a central sorting site
3) Sort aluminium and aluminium alloys
4) Re-melt the scrap aluminium and aluminium allows
5) Analyse the purity of the aluminium and adjust its composition
prior to casting into ingots
6) Transport recycled Aluminium ingots product manufacturers.