Chapter 10 : Metals

Physical properties of metals

Metals are known to have certain properties:

 solid at room temperature

 high melting point
 good conductors of electricity and heat
 malleable: they can be hammered into sheets
 ductile: they can be drawn into wires
 strong
 dense.
Chemical properties of metals

Reactivity with water

•
Some metals react with water, either warm or cold, or
with steam

metal + water → metal hydroxide

+ hydrogen

For example calcium:

Ca (s) + 2H2O (l) → Ca(OH)2 (aq)
+ H2 (g)

•
Metals that react with steam form metal oxide and
hydrogen gas

For example zinc:

 Chemical properties of metals

Reactivity with acids

metal + acid → salt +

hydrogen
For example iron:
Fe (s) + 2HCl (aq) → FeCl2
Reactivity with oxygen
(aq) + H2 (g)
• Unreactive metals such as gold and platinum do not react
with oxygen.

• Some reactive metals such as the alkali metals react easily

with oxygen.

• Copper and iron can also react with oxygen although much
more slowly.

• When metals react with oxygen a metal oxide is formed.

What is an alloy?
• An alloy is a mixture of a metal with at least one other
element.
• Alloys often have properties that can be very different from
the metals they contain, for example, they can have more
strength, hardness or resistance to corrosion or extreme
temperatures.
• These enhanced
properties can make
alloys more useful
than pure metals
Properties of Alloys

Alloys contain atoms of

different sizes, which distorts
the normally regular
arrangements of atoms in
metals
This makes it more difficult for
the layers to slide over each
other, so alloys are usually
much harder than the pure
metal
What types of alloys are there?

 bronze – an alloy of copper and tin, was

commonly used by civilizations before
iron extraction, machine parts.
 brass – an alloy of copper and zinc.
It does not tarnish and is used for door
knobs, buttons and musical instruments.
 solder – an alloy of zinc and lead.
It is used in electronics to fix
components to circuit boards.
 amalgam – an alloy of mercury with
silver or tin. It is used for dental fillings
because it can be shaped when warm
and resists corrosion.
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K
Very
reactive SODIUM Na The reactivity series
CALCIUM Ca depends upon three
MAGNESIUM Mg standard reactions. These
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al reactions are with:
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn
IRON Fe
1. AIR
Not very LEAD Pb 2. WATER
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu 3. DILUTE ACID
SILVER Ag
Not at
GOLD Au
all
reactive PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals
Reaction with
POTASSIUM K
Very
reactive SODIUM Na AIR
Burn very easily with a bright
CALCIUM Ca flame
MAGNESIUM Mg
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn React slowly with air when
IRON Fe heated
Not very LEAD Pb
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
SILVER Ag
Not at No reaction
GOLD Au
all
reactive PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals
Reaction with
POTASSIUM K
Very
reactive SODIUM Na WATER
React with cold water
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al
React with steam
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn
IRON Fe Reacts reversibly with steam
Not very LEAD Pb
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
No reaction with water or steam
SILVER Ag
Not at
GOLD Au
all
reactive PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals
Reaction with DILUTE ACID
POTASSIUM K
Very
reactive SODIUM Na Violent reaction with dilute acids
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al
React fairly well with dilute acids
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn
IRON Fe
Not very LEAD Pb
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
No reaction with dilute acids
SILVER Ag
Not at
GOLD Au
all
reactive PLATINUM Pt
 Explaining Reactivity

• Metal atoms form positive ions by loss of electrons

when they react with other substances
• The tendency of a metal to lose electrons is a measure
of how reactive the metal is
• A metal that is high up on the series loses electrons easily
and is thus more reactive than one which is lower down
on the series
 Displacement reactions

• Any metal will displace another metal that is below it in the

reactivity series from a solution of one of its salts
• More reactive metal– loses electrons more readily
(electron donor / oxidation) – REDUCING AGENT
• Less reactive metal – gains electrons more readily
(electron acceptor / reduction) – OXIDISING AGENT
Displacement reactions
Displacement reactions
What is rusting?
Rust is a chemical reaction
between iron, water and oxygen
to form the compound hydrated
iron(III) oxide (rust).

During rusting, iron is oxidised

Salt can increase the rate of

rusting. This iron bolt is on a
seaside structure and is nearly
completely corroded.

iron + oxygen + water  hydrated iron oxide

 Investigating rusting
• To investigate the conditions required for rusting, prepare
three test tubes as shown in the diagram :
Rust prevention methods

*Only iron or steel (an alloy made from iron) can rust. If any
other metal oxidises in air causing the metal to break down, you
should say that the metal has corroded.
 Galvanising & Sacrificial Protection
Sacrificial Protection

• A more reactive metal can be attached to a less reactive metal

• The more reactive metal will oxidise and therefore corrode first, protecting
the less reactive metal from corrosion
• E.g. using zinc bars on the side of steel ships:

• Zinc is more reactive than iron therefore will lose its electrons more easily
than iron and is oxidised more easily:
Zn → Zn2+ + 2e-

• The iron is less reactive therefore will not lose its electrons as easily so it is
not oxidised; the zinc is sacrificed to protect the steel
• For continued protection, the zinc bars have to be replaced before they
completely corrode
 Galvanising & Sacrificial Protection

Galvanising

• Galvanising is a process where the iron to be protected is coated with a layer of

zinc.

• This can be done by electroplating or dipping it into molten zinc.

• ZnCO3 is formed when zinc reacts with oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air and
protects the iron by the barrier method.
Why doesn’t aluminium corrode?
Aluminium is a very reactive metal. However, it does
not corrode in the presence of oxygen. Why is this?
oxygen in the
atmosphere

coating of
oxygen atoms

aluminium
atoms

The outer aluminium atoms react with oxygen in the

atmosphere. This forms a thin layer of aluminium oxide on
the metal’s surface, which protects the metal from corrosion.
Extraction of metals
The reactivity of a metal determines how it is extracted.
potassium Metals above carbon in the
sodium reactivity series must be
calcium extracted using electrolysis.
magnesium Electrolysis can also be
aluminium used to purify copper.
(carbon)
increasing reactivity

zinc Metals below carbon can

iron be extracted from their ores
lead by reduction using carbon
(hydrogen)
copper Platinum, gold, silver and
silver copper can occur native and
gold
do not need to be extracted.
platinum
How is carbon used to extract metals?
Metals that are less reactive
than carbon can be extracted
from their ores by burning with
carbon. raw materials

Iron is extracted by this method

in a blast furnace. The iron ore
is heated with carbon-rich coke
at very high temperatures. hot air

The iron collected from a blast

furnace is only 96% pure.

molten molten
iron slag
Extraction of Iron from Hematite

• Iron is extracted in a large container

called a blast furnace from its ore,
hematite.

• The raw materials: iron ore (hematite),

coke (an impure form of carbon), and
limestone are added into the top of the
blast furnace

• Hot air is blown into the bottom

Extraction of Iron from Hematite
Zone 1:

• Coke burns in the hot air forming carbon dioxide

• The reaction is exothermic so it gives off heat, heating the
furnace

carbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide

C (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g)

Zone 2:

• At the high temperatures in the furnace, more coke reacts

with carbon dioxide forming carbon monoxide
• Carbon dioxide has been reduced to carbon monoxide

carbon + carbon dioxide → carbon monoxide

CO2 (g) + C (s) → 2CO
 Extraction of Iron from Hematite
Zone 3 :
• Carbon monoxide reduces the iron(III) oxide in the iron ore to
form iron
• This will melt and collect at the bottom of the furnace, where it
is tapped off:

iron(III) oxide + carbon monoxide → iron + carbon dioxide

Fe2O3 (s) + 3CO (g) → 2Fe (I) +
3CO2 (g)

• Limestone (calcium carbonate) is added to the furnace to

remove impurities in the ore.
• The calcium carbonate in the limestone thermally decomposes
to form calcium oxide

calcium carbonate → calcium oxide + carbon dioxide

Extraction of Iron from Hematite

Zone 3 :

• The calcium oxide formed reacts with the silicon dioxide,

which is an impurity in the iron ore, to form calcium silicate
• This melts and collects as a molten slag floating on top of the
molten iron, which is tapped off separately

calcium oxide + silicon dioxide → calcium silicate

CaO (s) + SiO2 (s) → CaSiO3 (l)
Extraction of Aluminium from Bauxite
• Metals that are more reactive than carbon are extracted
using electrolysis.
• Its main ore, is bauxite, which contains aluminium oxide
• Aluminium is higher in the reactivity series than carbon,
so it cannot be extracted by reduction using carbon
Extraction of Aluminium from Bauxite

• Bauxite is first purified to produce aluminium oxide,

Al2O3.
• Aluminium oxide is then dissolved in molten cryolite.
• This is because aluminium oxide has a melting point of
over 2000°C which would use a lot of energy and be
very expensive.
• The resulting mixture has a lower melting point without
interfering with the reaction.
 Extraction of Aluminium from Bauxite

At the cathode (negative electrode):

• Aluminium ions gain electrons (reduction)
• Molten aluminium forms at the bottom of the cell
• The molten aluminium is siphoned off from time to time
and fresh aluminium oxide is added to the cell
Al3+ + 3e- → Al
At the anode (positive electrode):
• Oxide ions lose electrons (oxidation)
• Oxygen is produced at the anode:
2O2- → O2 + 4e-
 Extraction of Aluminium from Bauxite

The overall equation for the reaction is:

2Al2O3 → 4Al + 3O2

• The carbon in the graphite anodes reacts with the

oxygen produced to produce CO2
C (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g)
• As a result the anode wears away and has to be
replaced regularly
• A lot of electricity is required for this process of
extraction, this is a major expense