Chemistry

A. Physical Properties of Metals: Some of the main physical

properties of metals are given below.
● Metals can be hammered into thin sheets. It means they possess
the property of malleability.
● Metals are ductile. They can be drawn into wires.
● Metals are a good conductor of heat and electricity.
● Metals are lustrous which means they have a shiny appearance.
● Metals have high tensile strength. It means they can hold
heavyweights.
● Metals are sonorous. It means when we strike them, they make a
ringing sound.
● Metals are hard. It means they cannot be cut easily.
B. Chemical Properties of Metals: Some of the chemical
properties of metals are given below.
● Reaction with Oxygen – Metals react with oxygen and form
metallic oxides which are basic in nature.
Metal + Oxygen Metal oxide

Metal oxide + water Base

Example –Magnesium is metal and when it reacts with oxygen, it

forms magnesium oxide. When we dissolve magnesium oxide in
water, it gives magnesium hydroxide. The reactions are given
below.

2Mg + O2 2MgO

MgO + H2O Mg(OH)2

● An aqueous solution of metal oxide turns red litmus paper into

blue.
● Reaction with water - Metals react with water. When a metal
reacts with water, metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas are
formed.
Metal + Water Metal hydroxide + hydrogen

Example – Sodium metal reacts with water and forms sodium

hydroxide and hydrogen gas. The reaction is given below –

Na + H2O NaOH + H2

● Reaction With Acid - Metals react with acids and form salt and
hydrogen gas. Some metals vigorously react with acids.
Metal + Acid Metal salt + hydrogen

Example – Magnesium metal reacts with hydrochloric acid and

forms magnesium chloride and hydrogen. The reaction is given
below –

Mg + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2

● Reaction With Base - Metals react with bases such as sodium

hydroxide and form salt and hydrogen gas.
Metal + Base Metal salt + hydrogen

Example – Aluminum metal reacts with Sodium hydroxide and

forms sodium aluminate and hydrogen gas. The reaction is given
below –

Al + NaOH NaAlO2 + H2

● Displacement Reaction - A more reactive metal displaces a less

reactive metal from its salt solution. These types of reactions are
called displacement reactions.
 Example – Iron is more reactive than copper. So, it displaces
copper from its salt. The reaction is given below –

CuSO4 + Fe FeSO4 + Cu

1. A. Aluminum-Bauxite
B. Tin-Cassiterite, or tinstone
C. Iron-Magnetite, titanomagnetite, hematite
D. Copper-Chalcopyrite