Metals and Non-Metals

Definitions

Metals are electropositive (lose electron) elements

and they form cations (positive ions).

Nonmetals are electronegative (gain electron)

elements and they form anions (negative ions).

Metalloids are elements that contain properties of

both metals and nonmetals. Eg:-
• Silicon
• Germanium
• Arsenic
• Antimony
• Tellurium

Physical Properties of Metals and

Nonmetals
Difference Definition Metals Nonmetals
The property of having a shiny
Luster They posses luster The don’t have luster
surface.
They are hard
They are soft and
brittle.
Hardness - Exception: Na, K and
Li can be cut with a
Exception: Diamond
knife
Malleable
Ability to be beaten into thin
Malleability Not Malleable
sheets Au, Ag and Al are
highly malleable
Ductile
Ability to be drawn into thin
Ductility Not Ductile
wires
Ag is the most ductile
 Good thermal
conductors
Thermal Bad thermal
Ability to conduct heat Ag is the best
Conductivity conductors
conductor

Exception: Pb
Good electrical
conductors.
Bad Conductors
Electrical
Ability to conduct electricity Ag is the best
Conductors
conductor Exception: Graphite

Exception: Hg
High
Low
Tungsten has high
Melting and
melting point.
Boiling Point Exceptions: Boron
and Graphite
Exception: Hg, Ga,
Ce, Na, K
Ability to produce a ringing
Sonority Sonorous Not Sonorous
sound
High
Density Low and Light
Exception: Li, Na, K
Tensile Ability to bear damage
High Low
Strength
State at which it exists in Solids or Gases
Solids
Physical room temperature
States Exception: Bromine
Exception: Hg (l)
(l)

Chemical Properties of Metals

Metals, being electropositive, achieves the valency
of the previous noble gas, in ion form. Eg:-

Na → 2, 8, 1
Na+ → 2, 8 [Same as Neon]

Definitions

Electro-positivity is the tendency of a bonded

atom to lose its electrons for a shared pair of
electrons.

Electro-negativity is the tendency of a bonded

atom to gain electrons from a shared pair of
electrons.

Reaction of Metals with Oxygen

Metal (s) + O2 (g) → Metal Oxide (s)

Metallic Oxides are BASIC in nature.

Non-Metallic Oxides are ACIDIC or NEUTRAL in
nature.

Examples of Neutral Oxides:-

• NO (Nitric Oxide)
• N2O (Nitrous Oxide)
• H2O (Water)
• CO (Carbon Monoxide)

Reaction with air at room temperature

Na, K react vigorously when kept in open air. Thus,
they are store under kerosene.

4 Na (s) + O2 (g) → 2 Na2O (s)

4 K (s) + O2 (g) → 2 K2O (s)

Protective Layer formation

Mg, Al, Zn and Lead form a protective oxide layer
after reacting and thus prevent further oxidation.

4 Al (s) + 3 O2 (g) → 2 Al2O3 (g)

Heating in air
Cu and Mg react with O2 on heating.

2 Mg (s) + O2 (g) + Heat → 2 MgO (s) [Burns in

air]
2 Cu (s) + O2 (g) + Heat → 2 CuO (s) [Doesn’t
burn]

Fe, on heating in air, glows with a bright light and

combines with oxygen to form a mixture of Iron II
oxide [FeO] and Iron III Oxide [Fe2O3] called Ferroso-
ferric oxide [FeO.Fe2O3 → Fe3O4]

3 Fe (s) + 2 O2 (g) + Heat → Fe3O4 (s)

Anodizing is the process of forming an oxide layer

on the surface of a metal.
• Al forms a protective layer on its surface after
reaction with oxygen.
• Anodizing can thicken that layer electrolytically.
• After that, it can be dyed to look attractive.

Steps of Anodizing:-
• Pure aluminum is taken at anode
• Dilute H2SO4 is taken as the electrolytic solution.
• When the current is switched, O2 liberated reacts
with Al to form the oxide layer.

Amphoteric Oxides show both acidic and basic

characteristics. They react with both bases and
acids. Eg:- ZnO and Al2O3.

Al2O3 (s) + 6 HCl (aq) → 2 AlCl3 (s) + 3 H2O (l)

Al2O3 (s) + 2 NaOH (aq) → 2 NaAlO2 (s) + H2O (l)

ZnO (s) + 2 HCl (aq) → ZnCl2 (s) + H2O (l)

ZnO (s) + 2 NaOH (aq) → Na2ZnO2 (s) + H2O (l)

Reaction of Metals with Water

Metal (s) + H2O (l) → Metal Hydroxide (aq) + H2 ↑
Metal (s) + H2O (g) → Metal Oxide (s) + H2 ↑

Metal Water Info Reaction

• Highly 2 Na (s) + 2 H2O (l) → 2 NaOH

(aq) + H2 ↑ + Heat
exothermic
Na, K Cold Water
• H2 catches fire 2 K (s) 2 H2O (l) → 2 KOH (aq) +
H2 ↑ + Heat
Room • Heat is not Ca (s) + 2 H2O (l) → Ca(OH)2
Ca temperature enough for H2 to (aq) + H2 ↑
water catch fire.

• When it reacts Mg (s) + 2 H2O (l) → Mg(OH)2

Hot water with water, (aq) + H2 ↑
Mg and bubbles of H2 can
Steam be seen floating Mg(s) + H2O (g) → MgO (s) + H2
on the surface ↑

• Form oxides 2 Al (s) + 3 H2O (g) → Al2O3 (s)

+ 3 H2 ↑
Al
Zn (s) + H2O (g) → ZnO (s) + H2
Zn Steam
↑
Fe
3 Fe (s) + 4 H2O (g) → Fe3O4
(s) + H2 ↑

Reaction of Metals with Acids

Metal (s) + Dilute Acid (aq) → Metal Salt (aq) + H 2 ↑
 Metals Reactions
Na, K Vigorous
Ca, Mg Less Vigorous
Al, Zn Slow
Fe Very Slow

Acid Salt
HCl Cl salts
H2SO4 SO4 salts
HNO3 NO3 salts

HNO3 is a strong oxidizing agent. Thus, when a

metal reacts with it, it oxidizes the evolved H 2 to
give water and reduces itself to form N2O, NO or
NO2. It DOES NOT do this with Mg or Mn.

Zn (s) + 4 HNO3 (aq) → Zn(NO3)2 (aq) + 2 H2O (l) +

2 NO2 ↑
Mg (s) + 2 HNO3 (aq) → Mg(NO3)2 (aq) + H2 ↑

NOTE:-
• Nonmetals DO NOT react with acids as they are
electronegative (gain electrons).
• Thus, it can’t give the H+ ions, present in acids,
any electrons.
• Thus, it cannot displace H+ from the acid.
Aqua Regia:-
• Concentrated mixture of HCl and HNO3 in the
ratio 3 : 1.
• Highly corrosive and fuming.
• Can dissolve gold and platinum.

Reaction of Metal with Metal Salt solution

Metal A (s) + Salt B (aq) → Salt A (aq) + Metal B (s)

Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)

2 Na (s) + FeCl2 (aq) → 2 NaCl (aq) + Fe (s)
Cu (s) + AgNO3 (aq) → CuNO3 (aq) + Ag (s)

CHECK REACTIVITY OF METALS BEFORE

WRITING

Reactivity Series
Metal Name Mnemonic Code
K Potassium Please
Na Sodium Stop
Ca Calcium Calling
Mg Magnesium Me
Al Aluminum A
Zn Zinc Zebra
Fe Iron Instead
Pb Lead Learn
H Hydrogen How
Cu Copper Copper
Au Silver Saves
Ag Gold Gold
Pt Platinum Properly
How do Metals and Nonmetals React
Definition
Reactivity of elements is the tendency to attain
a completely filled valence shell. They do so by
gaining or losing e-.

Ionic compounds are formed by the transfer of

electrons from a metal to a non-metal. They are
also called electrovalent compounds.

Metal (s) + Nonmetal (s, g) → Salt (s)

Steps to show transfer of electrons:-

1) Write electronic configuration of Metal and Metal

Ion.
Eg: Mg → 2, 8, 2
Mg2+ → 2, 8

2) Write the ion formation’s equation.

Eg:- Mg → Mg2+ + 2e- [Mg becomes an ion and has 2 free e-]

3) Repeat same with non-metal.

Eg:- Cl → 2, 8, 7
Cl- → 2, 8, 8

Cl + e- → Cl- [Cl becomes an ion by gaining 1 free e-]

4) Draw the dot structures and transfer

[See Book Pg 48]
5) Write the salt compound with dot structures
[See Book Pg 48]

Properties of Ionic Compounds

• Physical Nature:-
◦ Solid and hard due strong inter-ionic forces of
attraction between cation and anion.
◦ Brittle and break into pieces
• Melting and Boiling Points:-
◦ High MP and BP because lot of energy is
required to break the inter-ionic forces of
attraction
• Solubility:-
◦ Soluble in Water
◦ Insoluble in other solvents like kerosene,
petrol, etc.
• Conduction of Electricity:-
◦ They conduct in aqueous form as the
compound undergoes dissociation. This
produces ions and thus electricity is
conducted.
◦ They conduct in molten form as inter-ionic
forces of attraction are broken due to high
amount of heat energy. Thus ions move freely
and thus conduct electricity.

Occurrence of Metals
Minerals are elements or compounds that naturally
occur in the Earth’s crust.

Ores are minerals that have a high percentage of a

particular metal which can be extracted profitably.
 Minerals Ores
Elements or compounds that Minerals that have a high
naturally occur in the Earth’s crust. percentage of a particular metal
which can be extracted profitably.
Many minerals are there for one Only one or two ores are there for
metal. one metal.
All minerals are not ores. All ores are minerals.
Eg:- Clay for Al Eg: Bauxite and Cryolite for Al

Extraction of Metals
Difference Low Reactive Middle High Reactive
Reactive
Exist as Free state. Sulfides, Never found as
Carbonates natural free
Cu and Ag are elements
also found as
sulfide or oxide
ores.

Many metals are found as oxides because:-

• Oxygen is very reactive.
• It is abundant on earth.

Enrichment of Ores
Gangue is the unwanted impurities like sand and
soil present in an ore.
Enrichment is the process of removing the gangue
from the ores before extraction of the metal.

Separation techniques of Gangue are based on the

physical and chemical properties of the gangue and
ore.
Extracting Metals Low in the Activity Series
• Since these metals are less reactive, they can be
extracted by heating in air.
• Eg:-
◦ Cinnabar (HgS) is the ore for mercury.
◦ On heating in air. it gives HgO.
◦ When further heated gets reduced to Hg.

2 HgS (s) + 3 O2 (g) + Heat → 2 HgO (s) + 2 SO2 ↑

2 HgO (s) + Heat → 2 Hg (l) + O2 ↑

The same applies for copper whose ore is Cu2S. After

getting Cu2O, it is heated with some more Cu2S to

2 Cu2S (s) + 3 O2 (g) + Heat → 2 Cu2O + 2 SO2 ↑

2 Cu2O (s) + Cu2S (s) + Heat → 6 Cu (s) + SO2 ↑

Extracting Metals Middle in the Activity

Series
• These ores are found in carbonate or sulfide
form.

• It is easy to obtain metal from oxides.

◦ They are reduced to the metal with a reducing
agent like Carbon.
◦ They can also be displaced by highly reactive
metals like Na, Al, Ca.
3 MnO2 (s) + 4 Al (s) → 3 Mn (l) + 2 Al2O3 (s) +
Heat

This heat turns the metal into molten state.

This property is used in Thermit reactions to
join railway tracks – Al and Fe2O3 are made to
 react to give iron to join railway tracks.

• Thus, the sulfide or carbonate ore must first be

converted into an oxide ore.

Step 1:-
Roasting Calcination
Process of heating a sulfide ore Process of heating a carbonate
in the presence of excess air to ore in the absence of air to
convert it into an oxide convert it into an oxide
compound. compound
Eg:- Zinc Sulfide Eg:- Zinc Carbonate

2 ZnS (s) + 3 O2 (g) + Heat → 2 ZnO (s) + 2 ZnCO3 (s) + Heat → ZnO (s) + CO2
SO2 ↑
↑

Step 2:-
2 ZnO (s) + C (s) → 2 Zn (s) + CO2 ↑

Extracting Metals High in the Activity

Series
• These metals are highly reactive.
• Thus, carbon cannot be used to reduce their
oxides because these metals have more affinity
for oxygen.
• Thus, they are obtained by electrolytic reduction.

Step 1:-
Molten Chlorides undergo electrolysis.

Step 2:-
Difference Anode (+ve) Cathode (-ve)
 Ions Chlorine anions (-ve) Metal cations (+ve)
come here. come here.

Chlorine gas is Metals are deposited

released at anode in the anode
Reaction Type Gain of e- → Reduction Loss of e- → Oxidation
Reaction 2 Cl- → Cl2 + e- Na+ + e- → Na

|||ly, Al is obtained by the electrolysis of molten Al 2O3.