Metals & handeling of various

metals
Class :- VIII
Subject :- Science
Name of Teacher :- Nuha Sadaf
School :- Bal Bhavan Public School, Delhi-92

Physical properties of metals :-
Metals are solids. (except mercury)
Metals are hard. (except Lithium, Potassium, Sodium)
Metals have metallic lustre. (shine)
Metals are malleable. (can be beaten into thin sheets)
Metals are ductile. (can be drawn into wires)
Metals have high melting points. (Gallium and Ceasium
have low melting points. They melt in the palm of the
hand)
Metals have high boiling points.
Metals are good conductors of heat. ( Best conductors
are silver and copper. Poor conductors are Lead and
Mercury)
Metals are good conductors of electricity. ( Best
conductors are Silver and Copper)
Metals are sonorus. (produce sound when beaten)
Chemical properties of metals :-
i) Reaction with oxygen :-
Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides.
When copper is heated it combines with oxygen to form copper oxide.
2Cu + O
2
2CuO
When aluminium is heated it combines with oxygen to form aluminium
oxide. 4Al + 3O
2
2Al
2
O
3
Some metal oxides are basic oxides because they react with water to
form bases.
4Na + O
2
2Na
2
O
Na
2
O + H
2
O 2NaOH
K + O
2
K
2
O
K
2
O + H
2
O 2KOH
Some metal oxides show acidic and basic properties. They are called
amphoteric oxides. Eg :- Aluminium oxide, Zinc oxide etc.
Al
2
O
3
+ 6HCl 2AlCl
3
+ 3H
2
O
(basic)
Al
2
O
3
+ NaOH NaAlO
2
+ H
2
O
(acidic) (Sodium aluminate)
ii) Reaction with water :-
Metals react with water to form metal oxides or metal hydroxides and
hydrogen.
2Na + 2H
2
O 2NaOH + H
2
2K + H
2
O 2KOH + H
2
Ca + H
2
O Ca(OH)
2
+ H
2
2Al + 3H
2
O Al
2
O
3
+ H
2
3Fe + 4H
2
O Fe
2
O
3
+ 4H
2

The reactivity of different metals with water is different :-
- Sodium and potassium react violently with cold water to form sodium
hydroxide and hydrogen and catches fire.
- Calcium reacts less violently with water to form calcium hydroxide
and water and does not catch fire.
- Magnesium reacts only with hot water to form magnesium hydroxide
and hydrogen.
- Metals like aluminium, iron and zinc react only with steam to form
the metal oxides and hydrogen.
- Metals like lead, copper, silver and gold do not react with water.
iii) Reaction with acids :-
Metals react with dilute acids to form salts and hydrogen.
Mg + 2HCl MgCl
2
+ H
2
2Al + 6 HCl 2AlCl
3
+ 3H
2
Zn + 2HCl ZnCl
2
+ H
2
Fe + 2HCl FeCl
2
+ H
2
The reactivity varies from metal to metal. For the above
metals the decreasing order of reactivity is Mg > Al > Zn > Fe.
Copper, silver and gold do not react with dilute HCl.
Hydrogen gas is not evolved when metals react with
nitric acid (HNO
3
) because it is a strong oxidising agent and
it oxidises the H
2
produced to water and is itself reduced to
oxides of nitrogen.
3Cu + 8HNO
3
3Cu(NO
3
)
2
+ 4H
2
O + 2NO
2

iv) Reaction of metals with metal salt solutions :-
A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt
solution. (Displacement reaction)
Magnesium displaces copper from copper sulphate solution.
Mg + CuSO
4
MgSO
4
+ Cu
Zinc displaces copper from copper sulphate solution.
Zn + CuSO
4
ZnSO
4
+ Cu
Iron displaces copper from copper sulphate solution
Fe + CuSO
4
FeSO
4
+ Cu
after 15 20 minutes
The reactivity of different metals with oxygen is different :-
Metals like potassium and sodium react vigorously with
oxygen and catch fire if kept in open. Hence they are
stored in kerosene to prevent burning.
If magnesium is heated, it burns with a bright flame.
If iron is heated it glows brightly.
If copper is heated it does not burn but forms a black
coating of copper oxide.
Silver and gold does not react with oxygen even at high
temperature.
Some metals like magnesium, aluminium, zinc, lead etc.
forms an oxide layer over it which prevents further
oxidation. They are called self protecting metals.

3) Reactivity series of metals :-
The arranging of metals in the decreasing order of their
reactivity is called reactivity series of metals.
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
4) How do metals an non metals react ?
Metals :- lose electrons and become positive ions. So they are
called electropositive elements.
Eg :- The atomic number of sodium is 11, its electronic configuration is
2,8,1, it has 1 valence electron. It loses 1 electron and forms a sodium
ion Na
+

Na Na
+
+ 1 e
-

AN = 11
EC = 2,8,1 2,8
Mg Mg
2+

+ 2 e
-

AN

= 12
EC = 2,8,2 2,8


Non metals :- gain electrons and become negative ions. So they
are called electro negative elements.

Eg:- The atomic number of chlorine is 17, its electronic configuration is
2,8,7, it has 7 valence. It gains 1 electron and forms a chloride ion Cl
-
Cl + 1 e
-

Cl
-
AN = 17
EC = 2,8,7 2,8,8
O + 2e
-
O
2-
AN = 8
EC = 2,6 2,8
5a) Formation of sodium chloride molecule NaCl

Na . + Cl Na

Cl NaCl

AN = 11 AN = 17
EC = 2,8,1 EC = 2,8,7
The atomic number of Na is 11, its electronic
configuration is 2,8,1, it has 1 valence electron, it loses 1
electron to form Na
+
ion. The atomic number of Cl is 17, its
electronic configuration is 2,8,7, it has 7 valence electrons,
it gains 1 electron to form Cl
-
ion. Then the attraction
between the Na
+
ion and Cl
-
ion results in the formation of
sodium chloride molecule NaCl.
x
x x
x
x
x x
.
x
x x
x
x x
x
+ -
b) Formation of Magnesium chloride molecule MgCl
2
Mg Mg
2+
+ 2e
-
AN = 12
EC = 2,8,2 2,8
Cl + 1e
-
Cl
-

AN = 17
EC = 2,8,7 2,8,8


Mg + Mg MgCl
2


The AN of Mg is 12, its EC is 2,8,2, it has 2 valence electrons, it loses
2 electrons to form Mg
2+

. The AN of Cl is 17, its EC is 2,8,7, it has 7
valence electrons, it gains 1 electron to form Cl
-
. Then the attraction
between Mg
2+

ion and 2 Cl
-

ions results in the formation of Magnesium
chloride molecule MgCl
2
.

.
.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x
x
x x
2+
-
x
x x
x
x
x x
.
Cl
Cl
-
x
x x
x
x
x x
.
Cl
Cl
7a) Occurence of metals :-
Some metals like gold, silver, platinum etc are found in the free
state in the earths crust because they are least reactive. Most metals
are found as oxides, carbonates, sulphides, halides etc.
Minerals :- are elements or compounds which occur naturally inside
the earths crust.
Ore :- is a mineral from which metals can be extracted profitably.
Gangue :- is the impurities present in the ore like rock particles,
sand particles, clay particles etc.
b) Extraction of metals from their ores :-
Metals are extracted from their ores in three main steps. They are :-
i) Concentration of the ore (Enrichment of the ore).
ii) Reduction to the metal.
iii) Refining (Purification of the metal).
Concentration of the ore :- is the removal of gangue (impurities)
from the ore by different methods.
8) Steps involved in the extraction of metals from their ores :-



Metals of Metals of Metals of
high reactivity medium reactivity low reactivity

Electrolysis of
molten ore Carbonate ore Sulphide ore Sulphide ore


Pure metal Calcination Roasting Roasting


Oxide of metal Metal

Reduction to metal Refining

Refining
Ore
a) Uses of Various metals

Iron:
i) Pig Iron is used to make pipes,sinks,railings & Cylinders
ii) Wrought Iron is used to make Nuts, Bolts , Agricultural tools.
iii) Stainless steel is used to make utensils, Knives.
iv) Steel is used in Construction, ships, bridges & railway lines.

Copper
i) Copper is used in making electric wires, and cables.
ii) Copper coils atre used in electrical appliances.
iii) Copper is used to make heating utensils,car radiators
iv) It forms useful alloys.
Aluminium
i) It is used in making overhead electric cables.
ii) It is used in making cooking utensils.
iii) Aluminium foil is used for packing foods.
ivAlimium alloys are used in aircraft engines & bodies.


b) Uses of Various metals

Zinc:
i) Zinc is used in making dry cells.
ii) It is used in coating of iron sheets to prevent rusting.
iii)It is used in making useful alloys like Brass, bronze & German silver.
Lead
i) Leasd is used in making electrodes for automobile batteries.
ii) Lead is used in protection from radioactive rays.
iii) It is used in making alloys like solder & bronze.
Chromium
i) It is used in elctroplating on iron to give continuous shining.for
example in hadles of bicycle & car bumbers.
ii) It is used in making cooking utensils.



b) Uses of Various metals

Iron:
i) Pig Iron is used to make pipes,sinks,railings & Cylinders
ii) Wrought Iron is used to make Nuts, Bolts , Agricultural tools.
iii) Stainless steel is used to make utensils, Knives.
iv) Steel is used in Construction, ships, bridges & railway lines.

Copper
i) Copper is used in making electric wires, and cables.
ii) Copper coils atre used in electrical appliances.
iii) Copper is used to make heating utensils,car radiators
iv) It forms useful alloys.
Aluminium
i) It is used in making overhead electric cables.
ii) It is used in making cooking utensils.
iii) Aluminium foil is used for packing foods.
ivAlimium alloys are used in aircraft engines & bodies.


Handeling of Metals.

Alkali metals ( Na, K, Li etc)
i) Alkali metals are very reactive to water , air & other metals.
ii) Lithium, Na, and NaK, and to a lesser degree K, can be transferred in
air or under oil or kerosene, as appropriate
iii) alkali metals shouls not come in contact with body parts.
iv) Storage areas shall be free of combustibles and of ignition sources.

Iron, Cu , Silver & aluminum
i) Iron gets rusting in prensence of water & Air layer by layer.
ii) Copper gets corroded in presence of carbon dioxide & water in the
form of green coating.
iii)Generally above described metals are prone to corrosion.




Corrosion :-
Corrosion is the damage caused to metals due to the reaction of metals
with oxygen, moisture, carbon dioxide etc.
Eg :- Formation of brown coating of rust over iron.
Formation of green coating of basic copper carbonate over copper.
Formation of black coating of silver sulphide over silver.
To show that air and moisture are necessary for the rusting of iron :-
Take three test tubes marked 1,2,3 and put iron nails in each of them. Put some
anhydrous calcium chloride in test tube 1 to absorb moisture. Pour some boiled distilled
water in test tube 2 and pour some oil over it to prevent air into the test tube. Pour some
water in test tube 3. Cork the test tubes and leave them for a few days. The nails in test
tube 1 does not get rusted because it had only air and no water. The nails in test tube 2
does not rust because it had only water and no air. The nails in test tube 3 gets rusted
because it had air and water.
b) Prevention of corrosion :-
Corrosion of metals can be prevented by :-
i) Applying oil or grease.
ii) Applying paint.
iii) By galvanisation. (Coating with zinc)
iv) By tinning. (Coating with tin)
v) By electroplating. (Coating a less reactive metal like chromium)
vi) By alloying. (Making alloys)