By Kamal Ahmad (03334567757)

LGS, BSS, CBS

Topic: Metals
Most of the metals are present in group I & II and in the middle (transition metals) of the periodic
table.
Important points about the metals
 Type of bonding is metallic bonding where “positive ions and “sea of mobile electrons” are present in
the metallic lattice. Diagram of metallic lattice is,

 Conductor of electricity due to free or mobile electrons

 Melting point, hardness & density of the transition metals are higher than that of Group I & II metals
 Shiny surfaces
 Malleable because layers of metal ions can slide over each other when force is applied

When a force is
applied then one
layer of ions slide
over other

Alloy
It is a mixture of metal (Major element) with another element (metal/non-metal) e.g. steel (Fe + C),
brass (Cu +Zn) etc. As alloy is a mixture so it has no chemical formula.

Sizes of atoms are different therefore layers

of an alloy cannot slide over each other easily

General properties of alloy

 Stronger or less malleable than pure metals because sizes of atoms are different therefore
layers of positive ions in the alloy cannot slide over each other easily
 Conduct electricity like metals due to free electrons
 Stronger but brittle than metals. Brittle means hard but liable to break easily because flexibility
of alloy is lesser than metal
Steel
 Steel is an alloy of Fe (mainly) and C
 “Low carbon steel” has relatively lesser amount of C than “high carbon steel” therefore it is
flexible and less hard so used to make car body, toys etc.
 “High carbon steel” is harder than “low carbon steel” and used to make cutlery, surgical
instruments, cutting tools, hammer etc.

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 By Kamal Ahmad (03334567757)
LGS, BSS, CBS

Reactivity series of metals

Metals are reacted with cold water, steam and concentrated HCl. According to their speed of
reaction, metals are listed down from most reactive metal to least reactive metal. This
arrangement/series is called reactivity series of metals.

K Most Reactive
Memorize this
Na reactivity series

Ca
Mg
Al Reactivity
decreases Note: Although C & H are not metals but
C down the they are there for comparison purpose
group
Zn
Fe
Pb
H
Cu
Ag Least Reactive
Remember that gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) are even less reactive than Ag.

Reaction of metals with cold water, steam and concentrated HCl

K
Na React with cold water, steam and conc. HCl

Ca
Mg
Al React with Steam & conc. HCl
Zn
Fe
Pb
React with conc. HCl only. So, Cu & Ag do not react with dil. HCl
Cu
Ag

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 By Kamal Ahmad (03334567757)
LGS, BSS, CBS

Effect of heat (thermal stability) on metal carbonates

“Ionic compound of metal with carbonate ion (CO 3-2) is called metal carbonate.” e.g K2CO3, CaCO3 etc.
On heating, some metal carbonates decompose (breakdown) into simpler substances, this is called
thermal decomposition.

K
No effect of heat because these metals very reactive
Na

Ca

Mg

Al Metal Carbonate → Metal Oxide + CO2

e.g CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
Zn

Fe

Pb

Cu
Silver Carbonate → Silver + CO2 + O2
Ag
e.g 2Ag2CO3 → 4Ag + 2CO2 + O2

Displacement Reaction:
Any upper metal (more reactive) can displace any lower metal (less reactive) from its compound. This
is called displacement reaction (or single displacement reaction).
Note: Single displacement reaction is a redox reaction because of change in oxidation states of
elements.
e.g K + NaCl → KCl + Na (K is oxidized while Na is reduced)

Reduction of metal oxide by C (or displacement of metal from metal oxide by C)

Carbon can reduce/displace all the metals below it.
e.g PbO2 + C → Pb + CO2
Reason: Carbon is more reactive than Pb
e.g MgO + C → No Reac on
Reason: Carbon is less reactive than Mg

Reduction of metal oxide by H (or displacement of metal from metal oxide by H)

Hydrogen can reduce/displace all the metals below it.
e.g CuO + H2 → Cu + H2O
Reason: H is more reactive than Cu
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 By Kamal Ahmad (03334567757)
LGS, BSS, CBS

Extraction of a metal from metal oxide

Separation of a metal from its oxide (Ore) is called extraction of metal. Ore is an impure form of
metal oxide.

K
Na
Ca By electrolysis

Mg C & H, in reactivity
series, are for reactivity
Al comparison purpose.
C Remember that C is after
Al while H is after Pb
Zn
Fe
Pb Reduction of metal oxide by C or CO (carbon monoxide)
H
Cu
Oxides of Cu and Ag can also be reduced by H
Ag as they are below than H in reactivity series

Extraction of Fe (Blast Furnace)

Input materials are
 Fe2O3 (Haematite; an ore of iron) [source of Fe]
 C (Coke) [source to produce CO which is reducing agent. It reduces Fe 2O3 into Fe]
 CaCO3 (marble) [Used to remove impurity “Sand” from iron ore]

Memorize input
materials

Memorize the diagram

with its labelling

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 By Kamal Ahmad (03334567757)
LGS, BSS, CBS

Reactions in the blast furnace Memorize reactions of these 4 steps

Step 1: Reaction of C & O2 to form CO2

C + O2 → CO2

Step 2: CO2 again reacts with C to form CO (carbon monoxide) because carbon is in excess
CO2 + C → 2CO

Step 3: CO reduces the Fe2O3 into Fe along with the formation of CO2
Fe2O3 + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2
(Purity of iron made in the blast furnace is approximately 95%)

Step 4: Removal of SiO2 (sand) from Haematite by using CaCO3

First heat calcium carbonate to convert it into CaO and CO2
CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
Now CaO reacts with SiO2 (sand, an acidic impurity present in Haematite)
CaO + SiO2 → CaSiO3 (Slag)
Chemical name of slag is calcium silicate. Marble (calcium carbonate/limestone) is used to remove
impurity sand (SiO2) from Haematite.
Advantages of using blast furnace process
 Iron ore, Haematite is readily available
 The reducing agent is cheap
 It is a continuous process

Corrosion
“Reaction of a metal with O2 and H2O of air (or environment) is called corrosion”.

Rusting
Corrosion of Fe is called rusting. Actually “Rust” is formed when Fe reacts with O2 and H2O of air.
Condition for rusting: O2 and H2O
General equation of the formation of rust is,
4Fe + 3O2 + 2nH2O → 2Fe2O3.nH2O [No need to memorize this equation]

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 By Kamal Ahmad (03334567757)
LGS, BSS, CBS

Note: Catalyst for rusting is a salt e.g. NaCl.

Why does rusting of iron continue?
When iron is rusted, a layer of Fe2O3 covers the whole piece of iron. As the layer is porous so oxygen
and water continue to enter through the layer and hence rusting continues.

Corrosion of Al
When Al is corroded, a non-porous/compact layer of Al 2O3 is formed around Aluminum piece. As the
layer is non-porous so it stops the reaction of inner Al-metal with O2. Therefore, it seems that Al is
unreactive.

Uses of Al
 To make overhead electric cables because of good conductivity
 Alloy of Al (Duralumin) is used to make aircraft body because alloy of Al is strong and has low
density than pure aluminium (Note: pure metals have high density than alloys)
 To make food container because Al is unreactive due to the formation of a non-porous or
impermeable layer of Al2O3.

Prevention of corrosion
To stop corrosion of a metal (Fe), stop the oxygen and moisture to reach metal. This can be done in
various ways,
1- Apply a layer of paint/oil/grease on iron
2- Apply coating of an unreactive metal on iron e.g. Sn (tin)
3- Blocks of Zn/Mg are attached to iron. Zn/Mg stops water and oxygen getting to iron.
Reason: Mg is more reactive than iron so magnesium reacts instead of iron. This process is called
sacrificial protection or galvanizing.

Recycling of metals
To save natural resources of metal, recycling is carried out.
Advantages
 Recycling is inexpensive because it reduces the cost of energy as compared to extraction
 Recycling produces less pollution than extraction
Disadvantages
 Sometime recycling is more expensive than extraction
 In case of some metals, recycling produces more pollution than extraction