Metals and their reactivity

Chemistry

Metals – Properties and Reactions

A property of a substance is a feature or an attribute that
the substance has.

For example:

Iron = very strong

Copper = doesn’t rust

Gold = nice colour!

Properties of Metals

Properties of
Metals

Conduction

Metals can conduct both heat and electricity.

This is because all metal atoms have free electrons
(delocalised electrons) which can move from one atom to the
next.

This lets the heat and electricity ‘move’.

e
e

e

Most elements in the Periodic Table are metals.

Atoms of metal elements bond by METALLIC BONDING.

A metallic structure exists of a giant lattice of positively
charged ions and delocalised (free) outer electrons.

Metallic Bonding & Structure

Alloys

To change the properties of metals they can be mixed with
other metals (or carbon).
These are known as ALLOYS.

Examples include:

Steel – iron & carbon (increase strength)
Stainless steel – iron, chromium & nickel (resists rusting)
Solder – lead & tin (melts at low temperature)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following demonstrates a property of a metal?

• Malleable

• Dull

• Brittle

• None of these

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a property of metals?

• It's malleable

• It can't conduct electricity

• They are used in food

• It's very brittle

Multiple Choice

If you have a material that can conduct electricity well it is probably a...

• Metalloid

• Matter

• Non-metal

• Metal

Multiple Choice

What physical properties are used to classify elements as metals, non-metals, or metalloids?

• Color, smell, physical state

• Reactivity, streak, hardness

• Ability to burn, mass, density

• Luster, conductivity, malleability

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would help a student classify an unknown element as a metal, metalloid, or non-metal?

• Measure its conductivity

• Determine its density

• Find its melting point

• Observe its color

Multiple Choice

Metals are ductile, meaning they can be drawn into wire

• True

• False

• Never

Multiple Choice

Unlike non-metals, most metals tend to —

• conduct electricity and heat well.

• be gases at room temperature.

• break easily when hammered.

• have less luster and shine.

Multiple Choice

Luster is ___________

• A.  the way light is reflected off a surface.

• A.  how well a piece of matter conducts electricity. 

• A.  the capability of being drawn out into thin wires or threads.

• A.  the capability of being hammered out thin.

Multiple Choice

Some characteristics of a metal are that it is malleable and ductile.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Iron is a good conductor, malleable and magnetic. What type of element is Iron? 

• Metal

• Nonmetal

• Metalloid

• Pretty

Multiple Choice

Elements in the shaded area can best be described as -

• Malleable

• Brittle

• Dull

• Insulators

Multiple Choice

Look at the periodic table that is provided. Where would metals be located? 

• to the left of the table 

• to the right of the table 

• in the zigzag line 

Multiple Select

Ductile metals

• Will stretch without being damaged

• Can be drawn or stretched out into long wires

• Will never break

• include examples such as Copper

Multiple Choice

Tensile strength is

• the amount of weight a material can support.

• the amount of stretching a material can withstand before breaking or failing.

• the amount of liquid a material can absorb before breaking.

• a test for the amount of iron in a metal.

Multiple Choice

Which metal is the best conductor of electricity?

• Steel

• Zinc

• Copper

• Brass

Multiple Choice

Alloys are created to improve the working properties and appearance of metals, they are made by combining two or more elements.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Steel generally speaking is made of

• iron and carbon

• copper and iron

• tin and carbon

• aluminum and nickel

Multiple Choice

Brass is an alloy made of

• copper and zinc

• copper and tin

• copper and nickel

• copper and aluminum

Multiple Choice

Bronze is an alloy made of

• aluminum and magnesium

• copper and tin

• lead and tin

• copper and nickel

Multiple Choice

Steel can become stainless when alloyed with _____.

• chromium and nickel

• copper and zinc

• tin and lead

• iron aand carbon

Multiple Choice

‘Bronze is harder than copper’. Which of the following is the best to explain the statement?

• Atoms in bronze are arranged closely packed and less empty spaces.

• Layers of atoms in bronze are not easily slide over each other.

• Atomic size of copper and tin is different.

• Bronze is a mixture of copper and tin

Multiple Choice

Which of the following properties does not belong to an alloy as compared to its pure metal?

• Stronger

• More corrosion resistant

• Harder

• More malleable

Reactivity Series

A Reactivity Series is a league table of how easily metals
react – with the most reactive at the top.

Chemists can study many different reactions to work out a
REACTIVITY SERIES

potassium

Most Reactive

sodium
lithium
calcium
magnesium
aluminium
zinc
iron
tin
lead
copper
mercury
silver
gold

Least Reactive

Reactivity Series

When acids react with metals, they produce
HYDROGEN gas.

Reaction of Metals with Acids

Reaction of Metals with Acids

20 cm3Sulfuric Acid

2 strips of Magnesium

Stopper
Delivery tube

Tub of water

Upside down
test-tube
full of water

How to collect your gas:

Once you have collected your gas, try and identify it.

potassium

Most Reactive

sodium
lithium
calcium
magnesium
aluminium
zinc
iron
tin
lead
copper
mercury
silver
gold

Least Reactive

React
with
acid

Reactivity Series

Reaction of Metals with Acids

All metals ABOVE COPPER in the Reactivity Series will
react with acid.

Metal + Acid Salt + Hydrogen

Magnesium + Hydrochloric

Magnesium + Hydrogen

Acid

Chloride

(this is similar to a neutralisation reaction you did)

What is a Salt?

Salts are compounds which are made when acids react.

Have you seen other substances which will
React with an acid?

Acids can react with:

Metals
Alkalis
Metal Carbonates
Metal Oxides

All these reactions will produce a SALT.

Naming Salts

When salts are named:
the first part of the name comes from the METAL
the second part from the ACID

Example:
Hydrochloric acid + Sodium = Sodium chloride

If the acid is hydrochloric then the salt will be a chloride.
If the acid is sulfuric the salt will be a sulfate.
If the acid is nitric then the salt will be a nitrate.

Naming Salts

Put the information in red, above, into a simple table so
that you will remember it!

Reaction of Metals with Oxygen

When metals react with oxygen they make an oxide:

Metal + Oxygen Metal oxide

Magnesium oxide

Aluminium oxide

Magnesium + Oxygen

Aluminium + Oxygen

N5

potassium

Most Reactive

sodium
lithium
calcium
magnesium
aluminium
zinc
iron
tin
lead
copper
mercury
silver
gold

Least Reactive

React
with
acid

Reactivity Series

React
with
oxygen

Multiple Choice

Aluminium is more reactive than ....

• Calcium and Zinc

• Sodium and Gold

• Magnesium and Copper

• Lead and Iron

Multiple Choice

Complete the word equation below.

Magnesium + oxygen --> .....

• Magnesium

• Magnesium oxide

• Oxides

• Magnesium oxide + water

Multiple Choice

Which of the following the most reactive in dilute acid

• magnesium

• calcium

• aluminum

• zinc

Multiple Choice

When a metal reacts with oxygen gas, the product is ...

• metal hydroxide

• metal oxide

• metal oxide and oxygen

• metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas

Multiple Choice

The least reactive in oxygen in the list is 

• iron

• zinc

• copper

• lead

Multiple Choice

Which one of the following metals reacts most vigorously with cold water?

• Sodium

• Magnesium

• Copper

• Zinc

Multiple Choice

Which metal is more reactive than calcium?

• magnesium

• potassium

• silver

• aluminum

Multiple Choice

When sodium reacts with hydrochloric acid, what is the name of the salt formed?

• Sodium Hydride

• Sodium Chloride

• Sodium Hydrochloric

• Sodium Chlorine

Multiple Choice

When potassium reacts with sulphuric acid, what is the name of the salt produced?

• Potassium Sulphide

• Potassium Sulphur

• Potassium Sulphuric

• Potassium Sulphate

Multiple Choice

Which metal reacts fastest with acid?

• Copper

• Iron

• Zinc

• Magnesium

Multiple Choice

Which metal reacts fastest with acid?

• Copper

• Iron

• Zinc

• Magnesium

Multiple Choice

Acid + Metal --> ?

• Salt + Water

• Salt + Hydrogen

• Salt

• Hydrogen

Multiple Choice

Put the metals in order of their reactivity from most reactive to least reactive.

• Magnesium> Iron> Tin> Silver

• Magnesium> Iron> Silver> Tin

• Iron> Magnesium> Silver> Tin

• Magnesium> Silver> Iron> Tin

Multiple Choice

Which diagram shows the structure of an alloy?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

What are X, Y & Z?

• X=Copper

  Y=Calcium

  Z=Potassium

• X=Potassium

  Y=Copper

  Z=Calcium

• X=Calcium

  Y=Potassium

  Z=Copper

• X=Calcium

  Y=Copper

  Z=Potassium

Flame tests

When compounds containing metals are placed in a
flame, they burn with a distinctive colour.

Metal

Flame colour

Flame tests

Chemists can use the colour of the flame to tell which
metals are present in the compound.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the positively charged particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom?

• proton

• neutron

• electron

• nucleus

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the negatively charged particle found on the outside of the nucleus?

• proton

• neutron

• electron

• nucleus

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the neutral particle found in the nucleus of an atom?

• proton

• neutron

• electron

• nucleus

Multiple Choice

When an atom gains or loses an electron, the atom is called a(n)

• electron

• ion

• particle

• nucleus

Multiple Choice

When a solution containing the sodium ion is heated in a flame it gives off this color

• yellow

• red

• orange

• green

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a suitable instrument for carrying out a flame test

• Platinum Wire

• Wooden Splint

• Both

• Neither

Multiple Choice

When a solution containing copper ions is heated in a flame it gives off this color

• red

• yellow

• blue/green

• purple

Multiple Choice

A lilac color of light was seen when this element was heated in the flame.

• sodium

• barium

• potassium

• copper

Multiple Choice

Lithium Flame Test?

• crimson

• orange

• yellow

• green

Multiple Choice

Barium flame test?

• red

• yellow

• orange

• Green

Multiple Choice

When heated, electrons are ____________.

• annoyed

• irritated

• excited

• angered

Multiple Choice

Sodium

• red

• orange

• yellow

• green

Extracting Metals

Metals exist in the earth’s crust as METAL ORES, the
natural compound which they exist as.

Normally they are found as the oxide (like iron
oxide) but sometimes as carbonates (like copper carbonate).

Extracting Metals

Metals are extracted from their ores in different
ways, depending on the REACTIVITY of the metal.

(More reactive metals are harder to separate from
their ores.)

potassium

Most Reactive

sodium
lithium
calcium
magnesium
aluminium
zinc
iron
tin
lead
copper
mercury
silver
gold

Least Reactive

Extracting Metals Summary

None needed

Electrolysis
(using electricity)

Reduction
(Heat and carbon)

Negative
electrode

Positive
electrode

+

+

+

+
-

-

-

-

When a DC current is turned on (ie turn on the power pack), the
charged particles move towards the electrode with the opposite
charge:

METALS (POSITIVE) NEGATIVE ELECTRODE
NON-METALS (NEGATIVE)

POSITIVE ELECTRODE

Electrolysis is the breaking up of compounds using electricity

Solution

Electrolysis

Making Electricity

V
Voltmeter

copper

zinc

Lemon juice acts
as an ELECTROLYTE

When pairs of metals are connected together with an
electrolyte (a solution) an electric current will flow.

In chemistry, this is known as a CELL (but you may call it a battery).

Cell (or Battery)

V

Metal A

Metal B

Electrolyte

(salt solution)

In chemistry, this is known as a CELL (but you may call it a battery)

An ELECTROLYTE is needed to COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT.

A Simple Cell

V

Metal A

Metal B

Electrolyte

(ionic solution)

A cell must consist of:

2 DIFFERENT METALS

and an

ELECTROLYTE

An ELECTROLYTE is a solution containing IONS (charged particles)

Electrochemical Series

Different pairs of electrodes (metals) produce different voltages.

Using the different voltages produced, metals can be organised
into a ‘league table’ (similar to the Reactivity Series).

This is known as an ELECTROCHEMICAL SERIES.

Electrochemical Series

Reactive metals are more likely to make electrons (electricity).

If you paired aluminium and calcium together – which is going

to make electrons?

A Simple Cell

V

Metal A

Metal B

Electrolyte

(ionic solution)

Metals vary in their ability to PRODUCE electrons.

If METAL A is better at producing electrons than METAL B,
the electrons will move from A to B.

Electrochemical Series

Rules for connecting metals:

• The further apart the metals are in the series, the

higher the voltage produced

Mg + Al create a lower voltage than Mg + Cu

• Electrons ALWAYS flow from a metal HIGHER in the

series to a metal LOWER

Mg down to Al (NOT Al up to Mg)

Flow of Charged Particles

V

Magnesium

Copper

Electrolyte

(ionic solution)

Electrons flow through
the wire from Mg to Cu

Ions flow between

the electrodes

Electrolyte

An electrolyte is a solution, which contains IONS (charged
particles). An electrolyte completes the circuit, and allows
electricity to be produced.

At a high concentration there are many more ions,
which produces more electricity.

More Complicated Cells

V

Magnesium

Copper

Electrolytes

(solution)

Salt

Bridge

When there are two half cells, a SALT BRIDGE is used to complete
the circuit.