UDGAM SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN

(2019 – 2020)
Subject : Science L-4: Metals and Non-Metals Class VIII Notes

Q1. Differentiate between the physical properties of Metals and Non-metals.

Property Metals Non-Metals

i. State Metals are generally solid at room Non-metals are generally brittle
temperature. solids or may be liquids or gases.
(exceptions: Mercury and Gallium)
ii. Hardness Metals are generally hard. Non-metals are generally not hard.
(exceptions: Sodium, Potassium, (exception: Diamond).
Gold and Aluminium)
iii. Lustre Metals have high lustre and so can Non-metals generally do not have
be highly polished. lustre.
exceptions: Iodine and Graphite.

iv. Density Metals generally have high density. Non-metals have low density.
(exceptions: Sodium and Potassium) (exception: Diamond)

v. Melting & They have high melting and boiling They have low melting and boiling
boiling points. points.
points (exceptions: Sodium, Potassium, (exceptions: Carbon, Silicon,
Mercury, Gallium) Boron).
vi. Malleability The property of a substance by which Non-metals are non-malleable.
it can be beaten into sheets is called
malleability. Metals are generally
malleable.
(exceptions: Zinc, Arsenic,
Antimony)
vii. Ductility The property by which a substance Non-metals are non-ductile.
can be drawn into wires is called (exception: Carbon fibre)
ductility. Metals are generally ductile.
(exceptions: Zinc, Arsenic,
Antimony)
viii. Tensile Metals generally have high tensile Non-metals do not have high tensile
Strength strength. strength.
(exceptions: Zinc, Arsenic, (exception: Carbon fibre)
Antimony)
ix. Conductivity Metals are good conductors of heat Non-metals are bad conductors of
and electricity. heat and electricity.
(exceptions: Bismuth and Tungsten (exceptions: Graphite and Gas
(of heat)) Carbon)
x. Sonorous They are sonorous in nature. They are not sonorous in nature.

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Q2. Explain the chemical properties of metals in detail.

i. Reaction with O2:

- Metals react with O2 to form metallic oxides.
- Metallic oxides react with water to form hydroxides which are basic in nature and hence turn red
litmus blue.
Metal + O2 Metallic oxide
Metallic oxide + H2O Hydroxide (Base)

Eg. a) 2Mg + O2 2MgO

Magnesium Oxygen Magnesium Oxide

MgO + H2O Mg (OH)2

Magnesium Oxide Water Magnesium Hydroxide

ii. Reaction with H2O:

- Metals react with water to form hydroxides and hydrogen gas is released.
Metals + H2O Metal Hydroxide + H2

- Different metals react with water at different speeds.

- Very reactive metals like Na and K react vigorously with water.
- A lot of heat is also generated when they react with water, hence they are stored in kerosene in
laboratories.
- Mg does not react with cold water but reacts slowly with hot water.
- Zn, Fe, Al react slowly only with steam.
- Metals like Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Pt, etc. do not react with water.

Eg. a) 2Na + 2H2O 2NaOH + H2

Sodium Water Sodium Hydroxide Hydrogen

iii. Reaction with Acids:

- Metals react with acids to form metallic salts and hydrogen gas.
Metal + Acid Metallic salt + H2

- Metals like Na, K, Ca react explosively with dil. HCl and dil. H2SO4.

Eg. a) 2Na + 2HCl 2NaCl + H2

Sodium Hydrochloric Sodium Hydrogen
Acid Chloride

Eg. b) 2K + H2SO4 K2SO4 + H2

Potassium Sulphuric Potassium Hydrogen
Acid Sulphate
- Mg and Al react vigorously with these acids.

Eg. a) Mg + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2

Magnesium Hydrochloric Magnesuim Hydrogen
Acid Chloride

Eg. b) 2Al + 3H2SO4 Al2(SO4)3 + 3H2

Aluminium Sulphuric Aluminium Hydrogen
Acid Sulphate

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- In case of Zn and Fe, the reaction is moderate.

Eg. a) Zn + H2SO4 ZnSO4 + H2

Zinc Sulphuric Acid Zinc Sulphate Hydrogen

Eg. b) Fe + 2HCl FeCl2 + H2

Iron Hydrochloric Iron Hydrogen
Acid Chloride

- In case of Sn and Pb, the reaction is very slow.

Eg. a) Sn + H2SO4 SnSO4 + H2

Tin Sulphuric Acid Tin Sulphate Hydrogen

Eg. b) Pb + 2HCl PbCl2 + H2

Lead Hydrochloric Lead Hydrogen
Acid Chloride

- Metals like Ag, Hg, Cu, Au, Pt do not react with these acids.

iv. Reaction with Bases:

- Metals react with bases like NaOH and KOH to form their respective salts and liberate
H2 gas.

Metal + Base Metallic salt + H2

Eg. a) 2Al + 2NaOH + 2H2O 2NaAlO2 + 3 H2

Aluminium Sodium Water Sodium Hydrogen
Hydroxide Aluminate

Eg. b) Pb + 2KOH K2PbO2 + H2

Lead Potassium Potassium Hydrogen
Hydroxide Plumbite

* (Q2ii till Q2iv. Chemical equations are just for understanding not for learning.)

v. Displacement Reactions:
- When a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution, it is called
displacement reaction.
- Based on the chemical reactions shown by different metals, they are arranged in the decreasing
order of their reactivity as follows:
Metal Reactivity Series:

K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Sn > Pb > Cu > Hg > Ag > Au> Pt

Potassium > Sodium > Calcium > Magnesium > Aluminium > Zinc > Iron > Tin > Lead
> Copper > Mercury > Silver > Gold > Platinum
Eg. a) CuSO4 + Zn ZnSO4 + Cu
Copper Zinc Zinc Copper
Sulphate Sulphate

Eg. b) FeSO4 + Zn ZnSO4 + Fe

Iron Zinc Zinc Iron

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 Sulphate Sulphate

Q3. Explain the chemical properties of Non-metals.

i. Reaction with O2:

- Non-metals react with O2 to produce non-metallic oxides which are acidic in nature.
- Non-metallic oxides react with water to form acids which turn blue litmus red.
Non-metal + O2 Non-metallic oxide
Non-metallic oxide + H2O Acid

Eg. a) S + O2 SO2
Sulphur Oxygen Sulphur dioxide

SO2 + H2O H2SO3

Sulphur dioxide Water Sulphurous Acid

Eg. b) 2S + 3O2 2SO3

Sulphur Oxygen (excess) Sulphur trioxide

SO3 + H2O H2SO4

Sulphur trioxide Water Sulphuric Acid

*( Q3 i. Equations are just for understanding not for learning)

ii. Reaction with Water:

- Non-metals do not react with water hence very reactive non-metals like Phosphorus are stored in
water in the labs.

iii. Reaction with Acids:

- Non-metals do not react with acids.

iv. Reaction with Bases:

- Non-metals react with bases, but the reactions are very complex.

v. Displacement Reactions:
- Non-metals do not show displacement reactions.
(exception: Fluorine, Bromine, Chlorine, Iodine)

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