Metals and Non-metals

Metals are the elements which form positive ions by losing electrons. Thus, metals are known as
Electropositive Elements.

Physical Properties of Metals

 Hardness: Most of the metals are hard, except alkali metals, such as sodium, potassium, lithium,
etc. are very soft metals. These can be cut by using a knife.

 Strength: Most of the metals are strong and have high tensile strength. Because of this, big
structures are made using metals, such as copper (Cu) and iron (Fe). (Except Sodium (Na) and
potassium (K) which are soft metals).

 State: Metals are solid at room temperature except for mercury (Hg).

 Sound: Metals produce ringing sound, so, metals are called Sonorous. Sound of metals is also
known as Metallic sound. This is the cause that metal wires are used in making musical
instruments.

 Conduction: Metals are a good conductor of heat and electricity. This is the why that electric
wires are made of metals like copper and aluminium.

 Malleability: Metals are malleable. This means metals can be beaten into a thin sheet. Because
of this property, iron is used in making big ships.

 Ductility: Metals are ductile. This means metals can be drawn into thin wire. Because of this
property, a wire is made of metals.

 Melting and Boiling Point: Metals have generally high melting and boiling points. (Except
sodium and potassium metals which have low melting and boiling point.)

 Density: Most of the metals have a high density.

 Colour: Most of the metals are grey in colour. But gold and copper are exceptions.

Chemical Properties of Metals

1. Reaction with oxygen: Most of the metals form respective metal oxides when reacting with
oxygen.

Metal + Oxygen → Metal Oxide

Examples:

Reaction of Potassium with Oxygen: Potassium metal forms potassium oxide when reacts with
oxygen.

Reaction of Sodium with Oxygen: Sodium metal forms sodium oxide when reacts with oxygen.
Lithium, potassium, sodium, etc. are known as Alkali-metals. Alkali metals react vigorously with
oxygen

Reaction of Copper metal with Oxygen: Copper does not react with oxygen at room
temperature but when burnt in air, it gives oxide.

Silver, gold and platinum do not combine with the oxygen of air even at high temperature. They
are the least reactive.

2. Reaction of metals with water: Metals form respective hydroxide and hydrogen gas when
reacting with water.
Metal + Water → Metal hydroxide + Hydrogen
Most of the metals do not react with water. However, alkali metals react vigorously with water.

Reaction of Sodium metal with Water: Sodium metal forms sodium hydroxide and liberates
hydrogen gas along with lot of heat when reacting with water.

Reaction of Calcium metal with Water: Calcium forms calcium hydroxide along with hydrogen
gas and heat when react with water.

Reaction of Magnesium metal with Water: Magnesium metal reacts with water slowly and
forms magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

When steam is passed over magnesium metal, magnesium oxide and hydrogen gas are formed.

Reaction of Aluminium metal with Water: Reaction of aluminium metal with cold water is too
slow to come into notice. But when steam is passed over aluminium metal, aluminium oxide and
hydrogen gas are produced.
2Al + 3H2O → Al2O3 + 2H2

Reaction of Zinc metal with Water: Zinc metal produces zinc oxide and hydrogen gas when
steam is passed over it. Zinc does not react with cold water.
Reaction of Iron with Water: Reaction of iron with cold water is very slow and comes into notice
after a long time. Iron forms rust (iron oxide) when reacts with moisture present in the
atmosphere. Iron oxide and hydrogen gas are formed by passing of steam over iron metal.

Both calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are heavier than water but still float over it: Both
calcium and magnesium float over water surface because hydrogen gas is evolved when these
metals react with water. It is in the form of bubbles which stick on the metal surface. Therefore,
they float over it.

Other metals usually do not react with water or react very slowly. Lead, copper, silver and gold
do not react with steam. Thus, the order of reactivity of different metals towards water may be
written as :
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu > Ag > Au

3. Reaction of metals with dilute acid: Metals form respective salts when reacting with dilute
acid.
Metal + dil. acid → Metal salt + Hydrogen

Reaction of Sodium metal with dilute hydrochloric acid: Sodium metal gives sodium chloride
and hydrogen gas when react with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Reaction of Magnesium metal with dilute hydrochloric acid: Magnesium chloride and hydrogen
gas are formed when magnesium reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Reaction of Zinc with dilute sulphuric acid: Zinc sulphate and hydrogen gas are formed when
zinc reacts with dilute sulphuric acid. This method is used in the laboratory to produce hydrogen
gas.

Hydrogen (H2) gas is not evolved when metal is treated with nitric acid (HNO3):
Nitric acid is strong oxidising agent and it oxidises the hydrogen gas (H2) liberated into water
(H2O) and itself get reduced to some oxide of nitrogen like nitrous oxide (N2O)3 nitric oxide (NO)
and nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
Copper, gold, silver are known as noble metals. These do not react with water or dilute acids.
The order of reactivity of metal towards dilute hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid is in the order;
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Cu > Hg > Ag

Metal Oxides
Chemical Properties: Metal oxides are basic in nature. The aqueous solution of metal oxides
turns red litmus blue.
Reaction of Metal oxides with Water: Most of the metal oxides are insoluble in water. Alkali
metal oxides are soluble in water. Alkali metal oxides give strong base when dissolved in water.

Reaction of Sodium oxide with Water: Sodium oxide gives sodium hydroxide when reacts with
water.

Reaction of Potassium oxide with Water: Potassium oxide gives potassium hydroxide when
reacts with water.

Reaction of Zinc oxide and Aluminium oxide: Aluminium oxide and zinc oxide are insoluble in
water. Aluminium oxide and zinc oxide are amphoteric in nature. An amphoteric substance
shows both acidic and basic characters. It reacts with base like acid and reacts with an acid like a
base.
When zinc oxide reacts with sodium hydroxide, it behaves like an acid. In this reaction, sodium
zincate and water are formed.

Zinc oxide behaves like a base when reacts with acid. Zinc oxide gives zinc chloride and water on
reaction with hydrochloric acid.

In a similar way, aluminium oxide behaves like a base when reacts with acid and behaves like
acid when reacts with a base.
Aluminium oxide gives sodium aluminate along with water when reacts with sodium hydroxide.
Aluminium oxide gives aluminium chloride along with water when it reacts with hydrochloric
acid.

Reactivity Series of Metals: The order of intensity or reactivity of metal is known as Reactivity
Series. Reactivity of elements decreases on moving from top to bottom in the given reactivity
series.
In the reactivity series, copper, gold, and silver are at the bottom and hence, least reactive.
These metals are known as Noble metals. Potassium is at the top of the series and hence, most
reactive.
Reactivity of some metals are given in descending order :
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu

4. Reaction of metals with solution of other metal salts: Reaction of metals with the solution of
other metal salt is displacement reaction. In this reaction, more reactive metal displaces the less
reactive metal from its salt.
Metal A + Salt of metal B → Salt of metal A + Metal B
Examples :

Iron displaces copper from copper sulphate solution.

Similarly, aluminium and zinc displace copper from the solution of copper sulphate.

In all the above examples, iron, aluminium and zinc are more reactive than copper. This is why
 they displace copper from its salt solution.
When copper is dipped in the solution of silver nitrate, it displaces silver and forms copper
nitrate.

In the reaction, copper is more reactive than silver and hence, displaces silver from silver nitrate
solution.
Silver metal does not react with copper sulphate solution because silver is less reactive than
copper and not able to displace copper from its salt solution.

Similarly, when gold is dipped in the solution of copper nitrate, no reaction takes place because
copper is more reactive than gold.

In similar way, no reaction takes place when copper is dipped in the solution of aluminium
nitrate because copper is less reactive than aluminium.

Non-Metals: Physical Properties of non-metals, chemical properties of non-metals, non¬metal

Physical properties of non-metals

 Hardness: Non-metals are not hard rather they are generally soft. But the diamond is an
exception; it is the hardest naturally occurring substance.

 State: Non-metals may be solid, liquid or gas.

 Lustre: Non-metals have a dull appearance. Diamond and iodine are exceptions.

 Sonority: Non-metals are not sonorous, i.e., they do not produce a typical sound on being hit.

 Conduction: Non-metals are a bad conductor of heat and electricity. Graphite which is allotrope
of carbon is a good conductor of electricity and is an exception.

 Malleability and ductility: Non-metals are brittle.

 Density: Most of the non-metals have low density.

 Colour: Non-metals are in many colours.

Carbon in the form of graphite is non-metal which conduct electricity.

Iodine is non-metal which is lustrous having a shining surface.

Carbon in the form of diamond is a non-metal which is extremely hard.

Diamond is a non-metal which has a very high melting point and boiling point