METALS

1. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF METALS

1) State FOUR physical properties of metals.

● High melting points owing to strength of metallic bonds

● Good conductors of heat and electricity owing to mobile electrons
● High density
● Solid state (exception: mercury which is liquid)
● Malleable (hammered into sheets) and ductile (drawn into wires)
● Metallic lustre
● Metallic sonority

2. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF METALS

i) METAL + OXYGEN ---> METALLIC OXIDE

Ca + O2

Al + O2

Fe + O2

ii) METAL + COLD WATER ---> BASE/HYDROXIDE + HYDROGEN GAS

K + H2O

Na + H20

Ca + H2O

Some metals will not react with cold water but will react with steam.

iii) METAL + STEAM ---> METALLIC OXIDE + HYDROGEN GAS

Mg + H2O

As we go down the Reactivity series, some metals will not react with cold water or steam but will
react with dilute ACIDS such as HCl or H2SO4.

iii) METAL + DIL. ACID ---> SALT + HYDROGEN GAS

 Al + HCl

Zn + HCl

+ DIL. ACID + HEAT (Thermal Decomposition)

METAL OXIDE SALT + WATER METAL + OXYGEN

METAL HYDROXIDE SALT + WATER OXIDE + WATER

METAL NITRATE DOUBLE DISPLACEMENT RXN.* OXIDE + NITROGEN DIOXIDE + OXYGEN**

METAL CARBONATE SALT + WATER + CARBON DIOXIDE OXIDE + CARBON DIOXIDE

METAL HYDROGEN SALT + WATER + CARBON DIOXIDE CARBONATE + WATER + CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBONATE

*unless the salt formed is soluble in water. Refer to salt solubility table.

**exceptions - sodium and potassium nitrate forming nitrites and oxygen because the reactions are
more stable and only partially decompose.
3. THE ACTIVITY OR REACTIVITY SERIES

(i) What is the Reactivity Series?

The Reactivity Series is an arrangement of metals in decreasing order of activity.

K Na Mg Al* Zn Fe Sn Pb (H)** Cu Ag Au Pt

(Please send monkeys and zebras in two large heavy cases stamped goods
perishable)

*Al tends to show low reactivity despite its position, owing to the presence of the oxide layer.

**elements below H do not react with acids to form hydrogen gas. Elements below H are relatively inert.

(ii) How was the Reactivity Series obtained?

The Reactivity Series was obtained by reacting pieces of different metals with water and noting their
behaviour.

4. USING THE REACTIVITY SERIES TO PREDICT

1) It can be used to re-arrange a group of metals either in DECREASING or INCREASING order of

activity.

2) It can be used to predict whether a DISPLACEMENT Reaction will take place.

3) It can be used to predict whether a metal can be extracted from its ore either by ELECTROLYSIS or
REDUCTION.
5. PREDICTNG A DISPLACEMENT REACTION

In a Displacement Reaction, if the free Element is HIGHER on the Reactivity Series, it will displace a
Combined Element.

Mg + FeSO4 → MgSO4 + Fe Since the Free Mg is higher

on the Activity Series than
the Combined Fe, then a
Displacement Reaction will
take place.

Fe + MgSO4 No reaction Fe is less reactive than Mg,

according to the Reactivity
Series.

6. PREDICTNG EXTRACTION METHOD OF A METAL BASED ON REACTIVITY

*TWO common Reducing Agents used are CARBON or HYDROGEN GAS.

9. PRODUCTION OF IRON BY REDUCTION OF Fe2O3

1. Name the industrial equipment used to extract iron metal from iron (III) oxide ore,
HAEMATITE.

BLAST FURNACE

2. What is the name of the process used to extract iron?

REDUCTION OF IRON (III) OXIDE WITH CARBON

3. Name the THREE substances which make up the CHARGE.

PURIFIED IRON ORE, COKE/CARBON, LIMESTONE/CALCIUM CARBONATE

4. Draw and label a diagram of a Blast Furnace. Pay attention to the ORDER OF THE THREE LEVELS.
 5. Discuss the extraction of iron metal from iron (III) oxide using the Blast Furnace.
Identify the process and chemical reaction taking place at each level.

The charge made up of iron ore, coke and limestone is put into the Furnace and hot air is blown into the
bottom of the furnace. Reactions take place at THREE LEVELS:

LEVEL 1:

1. In the heat the Carbon is oxidized to form Carbon Dioxide gas.

C+O2 ---> CO2

2. The CO2 gas rises up to level 2.

LEVEL 2:

1. The CO2 gas is now REDUCED by Carbon to form CARBON MONOXIDE the REDUCING
AGENT CO2 + C ---> 2CO
2. The Carbon Monoxide rises to level 3.

LEVEL 3:

1. The Carbon monoxide REDUCES the Iron (III) oxide to form MOLTEN iron metal

Fe2O3 (s) + CO(g) ---> Fe(l) + CO2 (g)

2. The heat causes the calcium carbonate to form calcium oxide

CaCO3 ---> CaO + CO2

3. The Calcium Oxide (CaO) reacts with impurities such as Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) to form SLAG (CaSiO3)

CaO + SiO2 ---> CaSiO3

4. The slag floats on the molten iron and when removed the impurities are also removed.

10. ALUMINIUM EXTRACTION BY ELECTROLYSIS

The manufacture of Aluminium is done in TWO PARTS:

PART 1: The Removal of Alumina (Al2O3) from Bauxite ore.

PART 2: The Extraction of Aluminium metal from Alumina by ELECTROLYSIS.

11. PART 1 : THE REMOVAL OF ALUMINA (Al2O3) FROM BAUXITE

1. The ore from which aluminum is finally made is known as BAUXITE.

2. Bauxite is a reddish brown ore made up of Alumina/Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and dirt.

3. Caustic potash is added to bauxite to form sludge; the CAUSTIC RED Sludge is separated from the
ALUMINA.

4. a) The Aluminium is obtained by electrolysis.

b) The Caustic Red sludge is stored in large open ponds.

THE DANGERS OF CAUSTIC RED SLUDGE

1. Caustic Red Sludge in large open ponds is dangerous to the environment and living things.

2. If a crack forms at the bottom of the pond, the Caustic Potash can seep into the water table and
contaminate it.

3. When the liquid in the ponds evaporate, crystals of caustic potash form. They can be transported by
the wind to the plants, animals and people either killing them or damaging them.

PART 2: EXTRACTION OF ALUMINIUM METAL FROM ALUMINA (Al2O3) by ELECTROLYSIS

 1. Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) (white powder) has a very high melting point (2423K).
2. As a result CRYOLITE (Na3AlF6) is added to the Al2O3 to lower the melting point to ABOUT 1000K;
it is melted to form an electrolyte.
3. The molten ore is next transferred to an electrolytic cell made of steel, using carbon/graphite
electrodes
4. A current of 100,000 Amps is used (hence the need for cheap hydroelectric power or fuel) at a
temperature of about 1200K.

Al2O3 ---> Al3+ + O2-

CATHODE:

Al3+ is the only cation and is discharged to form Aluminium metal as follows:

3+ - 0
Al + 3e --->
Al(l)
The molten aluminium is collected through the tap.

ANODE:

The oxide ion O2- is the only anion and is discharged to form Oxygen gas as follows:

2- -
O - 2e ---> O
 2- -
∴ 2O - 4e ---> O2(g)

ALLOYS

● An alloy is a substance/mixture formed when a metal is mixed with other metals and/or
non-metals.
● Pure metals - soft, low tensile strength, high melting point, easily corroded
● Why use alloys?
○ Lower the m.p. of pure metals
○ Increases corrosion resistance
○ Decreases malleability and ductility (hardness and toughness increased)
● REFERENCE - Table of Metal Alloys and their Uses

CORROSION OF METALS

● WATER and OXYGEN are the prerequisites for corrosion to take place
● ALUMINIUM corrosion
○ This type of corrosion leads to the formation of a layer of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) which
surrounds the metal
○ 4Al(s) + 3O2(g) ---> 2Al2O3 (s)
○ This oxide layer is unreactive
○ The aluminium oxide sticks to the surface of the metal
○ The Al metal is therefore protected from further deterioration
○ REFERENCE - similarity in copper corrosion (formation of green CuCO3)
● IRON corrosion
○ Rusting is OXIDATION (Fe2+ to Fe3+)
○ Fe forms Fe2+
■ Fe(s) - 2e- ---> Fe2+(s)
○ Fe2+ reacts with hydroxide ions (from water)
■ Fe2+(s) + 2OH-(aq) ---> Fe(OH)2(s)
○ Iron (II) hydroxide reacts with oxygen to form Fe3+
■ Fe(OH)2(s) + O2(g) ---> Fe2O3 . H2O (s) (Hydrated salt of Iron(III)oxide = RUST)
● RUST PREVENTION
○ Coating with an inert material
○ Electroplating
○ Alloying
○ Sacrificial protection
METALS, LIVING SYSTEMS AND THE ENVIRONMENT