1a) 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)

b) Physical properties of non metals : Non metals may be solids, liquids or gases. (Solids Carbon, Sulphur, Phosphorus etc. Liquid Bromine, Gases Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen etc.) Non metals are soft. (except diamond which is the hardest natural substance) Non metals do not have lustre.( except iodine cryatals) Non metals are not malleable. Non metals are not ductile. Non metals which are solids and liquids have low melting points. Non metals which are solids and liquids have low boiling points. Non metals are bad conductors of heat. Non metals are bad conductors of electricity. (except graphite) Non metals are not sonorus.

2) 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 + O2 2CuO When aluminium is heated it combines with oxygen to form aluminium oxide. 4Al + 3O2 2Al2O3 Some metal oxides are basic oxides because they react with water to form bases. 4Na + O2 2Na2O Na2O + H2O 2NaOH K + O2 K2O K2O + H2O 2KOH Some metal oxides show acidic and basic properties. They are called amphoteric oxides. Eg :- Aluminium oxide, Zinc oxide etc. Al2O3 + 6HCl 2AlCl3 + 3H2O (basic) Al2O3 + NaOH NaAlO2 + H2O (acidic) (Sodium aluminate)

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.

ii) Reaction with water :Metals react with water to form metal oxides or metal hydroxides and hydrogen. 2Na + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2 2K + H2O 2KOH + H2 Ca + H2O Ca(OH)2 + H2 2Al + 3H2O Al2O3 + H2 3Fe + 4H2O Fe2O3 + 4H2

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 MgCl2 + H2 2Al + 6 HCl 2AlCl3 + 3H2 Zn + 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2 Fe + 2HCl FeCl2 + H2 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 (HNO3) because it is a strong oxidising agent and it oxidises the H2 produced to water and is itself reduced to oxides of nitrogen. 3Cu + 8HNO3 3Cu(NO3)2 + 4H2O + 2NO2

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