Metallurgy – Chapter Revision

 The elements which have a tendency to lose electrons and form positively charged ions
are called metals. Metals are contained almost in all Groups of the Periodic Table. The
first three Groups consist solely of metals except hydrogen and boron. Groups IA and IIA
contain the most active metals. The elements of Group 1A, except hydrogen are called
alkali metals. The elements of Group IIA are called alkaline earth metals.
 The elements which have a tendency to accept electrons and form negatively charged ions
are called non-metals. Non-metals are contained in Groups IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA
and Zero of the Periodic Table. Group VIIA is known as the halogen family. The elements
of Group Zero are called noble gases.
 Physical Properties of Metals
 All metals are solids at room temperature (except mercury and gallium).
 They possess a brilliant lustre called metallic lustre.
 They are generally hard.
 They have high density (except alkali metals).
 They have high melting points (except sodium and potassium), and high boiling points
(except mercury and gallium).
 They are good conductors of heat and electricity (except tungsten).
 They are malleable, i.e., Can be beaten into thin sheets (except zinc and mercury).
 They are usually ductile, i.e., can be drawn into wires (except zinc, mercury and
gallium).
 They are generally not brittle (except zinc).
 They are sonorous, i.e., give a note on striking (except sodium and potassium).
 They form alloys and amalgams.
 They are generally insoluble in water or other solvents.
 Chemical Properties of Metals
 Metals generally have 1, 2 or 3 electrons in their valence shells.
 They are electropositive in nature, i.e., form cations by losing electrons, for example,
Na — e− → Na+
Ca — 2e− → Ca2+
AI — 3e− → Al3+
 Generally, they form basic oxides. Their oxides react with acids to form salts and
water, for example,
Na2O + 2HCI → 2NaCI + H2O
CaO + 2HCI → CaCl2, + H2O
Cr2O3 is acidic, and oxides of AI, Zn and Pb are amphoteric.

 The metals placed above hydrogen in the activity series can replace the hydrogen ion
from an acid and so form a salt, for example,
Mg + 2HCl(dil) → MgCl2 + H2 ↑
Fe + H2SO4(dil) → FeSO4 + H2 ↑

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  Generally, metals do not form hydrides. Only some reactive metals like Na, K, Ca and
Mg react with hydrogen to form unstable hydrides. for example,
2Na + H2 → 2NaH
 Generally, metals form non-volatile solid chlorides which are not hydrolysed by water
(BiCl2, SbCl3, etc., are exceptions).
Metallic chlorides are electrovalent, so they act as electrolytes, So they act as
electrolytes, for example
NaCl → 𝑁𝑎 + + Cl−
Metallic chlorides conduct electricity in fused state or in solution. For example, when
an electric current is passed through molten calcium chloride, calcium metal is
liberated at cathode and chlorine at anode.
CaCl2 → Ca 2+ + 2Cl−
(molten)
Reaction at cathode: Ca 2+ + 2e− → Ca
Reaction at anode: Cl− - e− → Cl
Cl + Cl → Cl2 ↑
 Metals are reducing agents, i.e., they donate electrons, for example,
Na - e− → Na+
 Physical Properties of Non-metals
 Non-metals are gases, liquids or brittle solids at room temperature
 They do not possess lustre (expect iodine and graphite).
 They are generally soft (except diamond)
 They generally have low density (except diamond).
 They generally have low melting and boiling points (except carbon, boron, and
silicon).
 They are bad conductors of heat and electricity (except graphite and gas-carbon).
 They are non-malleable.
 They do not possess ductility (except carbon fibre).
 They are brittle.
 They generally do not form alloys and amalgams (except carbon and phosphorus).
 Generally, they are non-sonorous.
 They dissolve in many liquid solvents.
 Chemical Properties of Non-metals
 Non-metals generally have 5, 6, or 7 electrons in their valence shells.
 Non-metals are electronegative in nature, i.e., they form anions by accepting
electrons (except hydrogen), for example,
Cl + e− → Cl− ;
O + 2e− → O2−
 Generally, they form acidic oxides. Their oxides react with bases to form salt and
water, for example,
CO2 + 2NaOH → Na2CO3 + H2O
 They do not react with dilute acids.

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  Generally, they form volatile chlorides which are liquids or gases. Their chlorides
get hydrolysed with water, for example,
PC13 + 3H2O→ H3PO3 + 3HC1
 They react with hydrogen to form stable, covalent hydrides, for example,
S + H2 → H2S
 They are oxidizing agents, i.e., they accept electrons, for example,
S + 2e− → S 2−
 Electrochemical (metal activity) Series: The activity series of metals is a list in which
metals arc arranged in the order of their decreasing chemical reactivity.
Activity Series of Metals

Metal Symbol

Potassium K (Most reactive metal)

Sodium Na Very reactive metals.
Never found as free
Calcium Ca
elements in nature.
Magnesium Mg Extracted by electrolysis.
Aluminium Al
Reactivity decreases

Moderately reactive
Zinc Zn
metals. Found as oxides,
Iron Fe carbonates, or sulphites.
Lead Pb Extracted with carbon
or carbon monoxide.

Hydrogen* H

Copper Cu
Less reactive metals.
Mercury Hg They may be found as
Silver Ag free elements.
Gold Au (Least reactive metal)

*Hydrogen, although not a metal, is placed in the series to indicate the position it would
occupy.
 The process of obtaining a metal from its ore is called extraction of the metal. During
extraction, the metallic ions take up electrons to convert it into the corresponding atom.
This process of electrons gain is called reduction. The first five metals (potassium,
sodium, calcium, magnesium and aluminium) in the activity series are extracted by
electrolytic reduction method. Moderately reactive metals like zinc and iron, can be
extracted by both electrolysis and carbon reduction.
 Occurrence of Metals: In nature, metals are found both in free as well as in combined
state

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  Free state: Some metals like Au, Pt, Hg, Cu, etc., are found in nature in free or
elementary state (native form).
 Combined state: Some metals are found in nature in the form of their compounds.
These compounds are found in the earth's crust along with some impurities and are
known as minerals. Oxides, sulphides, halides, silicates, sulphates, phosphates,
chlorides and carbonates are some important minerals.
 A mineral from which a metal can be extracted easily and profitably is called an ore.
 The various types of impurities present in the minerals are collectively known as gangue.
 The process of extraction of metals in pure form from their ores is called metallurgy. It is
carried out in the following steps:
 Concentration of ore: The process of removal of impurities present in an ore is called
concentration or dressing of ore. Ores can be concentrated by the following
methods:
(a) Electromagnetic separation
(b) Gravity separation or hydraulic washing
(c) Froth floatation process
 Treatment of concentrated ore: It is done by:
(a) conversion of ore into its oxide by calcination or roasting.
(b) reduction of oxides.
 Refining of metals: It can be done by:
(a) liquation
(b) distillation
(c) oxidation
(d) electrorefining.

IRON
 Ores of Iron •
 Haematite: Ferric oxide (Fe203)
 Magnetite: Tri-iron tetroxide (Fe2O4)
 Iron pyrites: Iron sulphide (FeS2)
 Limonite: Hydrated ferric oxide
(2Fe2O3.3H2O)
 Spathic iron ore: Ferrous carbonate (FeCO3)
 Uses of Iron
 Cast iron is used for the construction of articles which require no great strength, such
as drain pipes, gutter covers, railings, stoves and steam radiators.
 Wrought iron is used for making wires, cables, chains and other small forged articles.
 Corrosion of Iron (rusting): When iron is exposed to moist air for a long period of time,
it gets covered with a layer of brown flaky substance called rust, which is soft and porous.
 Methods to Prevent Rusting of Iron
 By surface coating
 By galvanization of iron

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 The process of coating iron(steel) with a thin layer of zinc to prevent from corrosion is
called galvanization.

ALUMINIUM
 Ores of Aluminium
 Bauxite: Hydrated aluminium oxide (Al2O3.2H2O)
 Cryolite: Sodium aluminium fluoride (Na3AIF6)
 Corundum or Alumina: Aluminium oxide (Al2O3)
 Extraction of aluminium: Aluminium is extracted from bauxite. The extraction is carried
out in two steps:
 By Baeyer’s process: In this method, impure bauxite is converted into pure alumina.
 By Hall-Heroult’s process: In this process, aluminium is recovered from fused
alumina by electrolytic reduction.
 Uses of Aluminium: It is used:
 for making electric wires, coils and cables.
 in the alumino-thermic welding (thermite welding) of broken metals.
 for the extraction of some metals like chromium, barium, etc.
 as a deoxidiser in steel industry.
 for making light and strong alloys.
 for making cooking utensils.
 for making the frames and angles of doors, windows, etc.

ZINC
 Ores of Zinc
 Zinc blende: Zinc sulphide (ZnS)
 Calamine: Zinc carbonate (ZnCO3)
 Zincite: Zinc oxide (ZnO)
 Uses of Zinc: It is used:
 for galvanizing steel.
 in the form of amalgamated rods as electrodes.
 in the manufacture of a number of useful alloys such as brass, German silver, bronze,
etc.
 in dry Leclanche cells as the negative electrode.
 in the extraction of silver and gold.
 as a reducing agent.
 in the preparation of zinc dust, which is used in the manufacture of drugs and dyes.
 Alloy: An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals or a metal and a non-metal fused
together in the molten state in a fixed proportion. For example, brass and bronze are alloys
of Cu and Zn. They are made to enhance the properties of the constituents in order to get
desired properties.

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