Scribd
Upload
11 views12 pages

Bonding and Reactivity of Metals

1. Metals bond by forming giant lattices of positive metal ions surrounded by delocalized electrons that act as the "glue" holding the structure together, known as metallic bonding. 2. Metals are good conductors of heat due to their free-moving electrons. 3. The reactivity of metals can be predicted based on their position in the reactivity series, with more reactive metals being higher and more easily losing electrons.

Uploaded by

jpkaome
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
11 views12 pages

Bonding and Reactivity of Metals

1. Metals bond by forming giant lattices of positive metal ions surrounded by delocalized electrons that act as the "glue" holding the structure together, known as metallic bonding. 2. Metals are good conductors of heat due to their free-moving electrons. 3. The reactivity of metals can be predicted based on their position in the reactivity series, with more reactive metals being higher and more easily losing electrons.

Uploaded by

jpkaome
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

METALS

BONDING IN METALS

 The crystals of metals consists of ions NOT atoms surrounded by a sea of electrons forming
another type of a giant lattice.
 The outer electrons (-) from the original metal atoms are free to move around the positive
ion (+). These free or delocalised electrons are the electronic glue holding the particles
together.

 There is a strong electrical force of attraction between these mobile electronics (-) and the
immobile positive metals ions (+) this is metallic bond.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF METALS

a) Metals are good conductor of heat

Reasons: this is due to the free moving electrons. In metals the hot high kinetic energy electrons
move around freely to transfer the particles kinetic energy more efficiently to cooler atoms.

THE REACTIVITY SERIES OF METALS

Reactivity series is the arrangement of metals in order of decreasing reactivity. Giving the most
reactive first based on results from experiment with oxygen, water and dilute hydrochloric acid.
The most reactive series is at the top, the least reactive at the bottom. Most reactive metals easily
form positive ions than less reactive

The reactivity of the metals decreases as you move right across the table because the atoms have
more electrons that they need to lose. Energy is needed to strip those negative electrons away from
the positive nucleus - since they are opposite in charge, they are attracted to each other - and the
more electrons a metal atom has in its outer shell, the harder it is to get that atom to react.

EXAMPLES:

 Sodium reacts by losing a single electron.


 Magnesium reacts by losing two electrons.
 Aluminium reacts by losing three electrons.

Losing each electron requires some energy to be put in, so it is easier for sodium to react than
magnesium, and easier for magnesium to react than aluminium.

The reactivity of metals increases as you go down the group because the outer electrons (which are
lost when the metal reacts) are further from the nucleus.

This means that the nucleus exerts less of an electrostatic pull on the outer electron. The further
down a group an atom is, the larger the atom is, and the more reactive the element is.

Atoms of sodium (Na in the table) are larger, and so more reactive, than atoms of lithium (Li in the
table). Similarly, atoms of potassium (K in the table) are larger, and so more reactive, than atoms of
sodium.

It follows that elements below potassium in the table should be more reactive than potassium is.
Experiments show that Rubidium is indeed more reactive than potassium and Caesium is even
more reactive than Rubidium.

Hydrogen and Carbon in the Reactivity Series

Although not metals, hydrogen and carbon are often included in the Reactivity Series.

Metals above hydrogen in the Reactivity Series react with acids to produce hydrogen gas. Acids are
like salts except they have hydrogen instead of a metal ion.

Metals below hydrogen in the reactivity series generally don't react with acids, although they will
still react with concentrated nitric acid as it is a powerful oxidising agent (but that's a different
story ...)

The further up the reactivity series a metal is, the more vigorously it reacts with acids. Zinc, for
example, is just above hydrogen, so it bubbles away happily. Sodium is near the top of the table, so
it reacts more strongly. Potassium is even further up, and reacts so violently with acids that the
hydrogen produced catches fire!

REACTIVITY WITH WATER/STEM

Most metal in the series react with either water or steam. The vigour of the reaction decrease down
the series.

METALS REACTIVITY WATER/STEAM PRODUCTS


Potassium Very reactive In cold water Metal hydroxide and
Sodium Quite reactive hydrogen gas
Calcium Fairly reactive
Magnesium Slightly reactive

Aluminium Heated metal reacts In steam Metal oxide and


Zinc hydrogen gas
Iron

Copper No reaction
Silver
Gold

REACTIVITY OF METALS WITH DILUTE HYDROCHLORIC ACID

Most of the metals in the reactivity series react with dilute hydrochloric acid to produce a metal
chloride and hydrogen gas

Group 1 elements react violently with acid. It is very dangerous to put these metals into an acid

Examples

Sodium + hydrochloric acid sodium chloride + hydrogen gas


2Na + 2HCl 2NaCl + H2
Magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, tin and lead react safely with dilute acid. Magnesium is the fastest
and lead is the slowest of the six

Magnesium + sulphuric acid magnesium sulphate + hydrogen gas


Mg + H2SO4 MgSO4 + H2

Zinc + hydrochloric acid Zinc chloride + Hydrogen gas


Zn + 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2

Metals below hydrogen in the reactivity series (copper, silver, gold, platinum) will not react with
dilute acid.

APPARENT UNREACTIVITY OF ALUMINIUM

In the reactivity series aluminium is between magnesium and zinc. It is a reactive metal but behaves
like an unreactive metal as aluminium sauce pans do not react with steam and acids in the food
during cooking. This is because aluminium reacts with oxygen in air forming a layer of aluminium
oxide which protects and prevents further reaction of the metal

POSITION OF CARBON IN THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Carbon is more reactive than metal below it in the reactivity series therefore it reduces these metals
from their compounds

Zinc oxide + carbon zinc metal + carbon dioxide


2ZnO + C 2Zn + CO2

POSITION OF HYDROGEN IN THE REACTIVITY SERIES

Hydrogen is more reactive than metals below it in the reactivity series therefore it reduces the metal
ions of those metal from their compounds

Copper (ll) oxide + hydrogen gas copper metal + water


CuO(s) + H2(g) Cu(s) + CO2(s)

ACTION OF HEAT ON METAL COMPOUNDS

1 METAL CARBONATE: are decomposed by heat to a metal oxide and carbon dioxide gas

Calcium carbonate heat calcium oxide + carbon dioxide


CaCO3(s) heat CaO(s) + CO2(g)

Test for carbon dioxide

Test: bubble the gas in limewater


Results: limewater turns milky/ cloudy or a white precipitate is formed
Carbonates of potassium and sodium metals are not decomposed by heat because they are strongly
bounded to the carbonate ion.

2 Metal hydroxide: metal hydroxide of the less reactive metal is decomposed by heat to a metal
oxide and water (steam)

iron (ll) hydroxide heat iron (ll) oxide + water


Fe(OH)2 heat FeO + H2O

Metal oxide are decomposed by heat to the metal oxygen gas.

Copper (ll) oxide heat copper metal + oxygen gas


2CuO(s) heat Cu(s) + O2

TEST FOR OXYGEN

Test: use a glowing splint


Results: glowing splint relight

3 Metal nitrate: are decomposed by heat to a metal oxide, nitrogen dioxide gas and oxygen

Zinc nitrate heat zinc oxide + nitrogen dioxide + oxygen


Zn(NO3)2(s) heat ZnO(s) + NO2(g) + O2
Potassium and sodium nitrates do not decomposed when heated. When they are heated a nitrite
and oxygen gas are produced

2NaNO3 heat 2NaNO2 + O2

This is because the two metals are reactive therefore the nitrate is strongly bonded to the metal

TEST FOR NITROGEN DIOXIDE GAS

Test: contact the gas with damp blue litmus paper


Results: damp blue litmus paper turns red

Displacement reaction: reactive metal displace less reactive ones from their solutions.
CuSO4(aq) + Mg(s) MgSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

During the reaction, magnesium metal dissolve, a brown substance is deposited in the solution and
the blue colour of the solution fades away until it become colourless.
This is because the magnesium metal displaced the copper ions from the solution forming
magnesium sulphate (colourless solution) and copper metal (brown substance)

Tin + iron (ll) chloride no reaction


Sn(s) + FeCl2(aq) no reaction

EXTRACTION OF METALS
Extraction methods relate to reactivity. The way a metal is extracted from its ore depends on its
position in the reactivity series. Most metals are extracted by chemical process.

metals Method of extraction

Potassium Electrolysis
Sodium The metal compound is either melted or dissolved in water. Then electricity is passed
Calcium through the molten or aqueous material to separate the ions.
Magnesium This method requires a lot of energy and it is expensive
Aluminium

Zinc Reduction of the heated oxide by carbon (coke). Carbon easily replaces these metals
Iron e.g
Lead Zinc oxide + carbon zinc + carbon dioxide
Require less energy than very reactive metals

Copper Thermal decomposition of sulphide


Copper sulphide + oxygen copper + sulphur dioxide
Gold Found in nature as “free” or native (uncombined) metals. They are separated by
Platinum physical means

METAL ORES

Ores : naturally occurring minerals rocks from which metals can be extracted.

METALS NAME OF ORE CHEMICAL NAME OF COMPOND IN ORE FORMULA OF ORE

aluminium Bauxite Hydrated aluminium oxide Al2O3.2H2O

Iron Haematite Iron (lll) oxide Fe2O3


Magnetite

Zinc Zinc blende Zinc sulphide

Copper Copper pyrites Copper iron sulphide

EXTRACTION OF IRON

Iron is the second most abundant metal in the earth crust. It is a fairly reactive metal therefore it is
extracted from the ore by reducing or removing oxygen from the metal oxide with carbon monoxide.

Iron ores are (a) haematite (Fe2O3)


(b) Magnetite (Fe3O4)

The common ore is haematite (Fe2O3). This is the ore from which iron metal is extracted. The
reduction of the iron from the ore is done in steel tower lined with a heat resistant bricks. The tower
is called the blast furnace

The three main raw materials for extraction of iron are:

a) Iron ore- haematite (mainly iron (lll) oxide mixed with sand)
b) Limestone- calcium carbonate
c) Coke- made by heating coal and is almost pure carbon

HOW THE PROCESS IS CARRIED OUT


 The raw material are mixed together to give a mixture called a charge
 The charge is then poured through the top of the furnace
 The charge is heated in the blast furnace and several reactions takes place which ultimately
leads to production of liquid iron

The reactions in the blast furnace are:

1. The coke (carbon) reacts with oxygen in the hot air to make carbon dioxide

Carbon + oxygen carbon dioxide


C(s) + O2(g) CO2(g)

2. The carbon dioxide produced in stage 1 reacts with more coke, giving carbon dioxide

Carbon + carbon dioxide carbon monoxide


C(s) + CO2(g) CO(g)

3. Carbon monoxide reacts with iron (lll) oxide in the ore, giving liquid iron (molten iron)

Iron (lll) oxide + carbon monoxide iron + carbon dioxide


Fe2O3 + 3CO(g) 2Fe(l) + 3CO2(g)

The iron trickles to the bottom of the furnace (molten iron is denser than slag)

4. The limestone reacts with sand (silica) in the ore, to form calcium silicate or slag

Limestone + silica calcium silicate + carbon dioxide


CaCO3 + SiO2 CaSiO3 + CO2

The limestone is used to remove impurities

CaCO3 CaO(s) + CO2(g)

So the calcium oxide, CaO is the one that combines with impurities silicon dioxide, SiO3
Forming the slag, CaSiO3
The slag runs down the furnace and floats on the iron

The molten iron is 95% pure. It is hard but brittle. Most of it is turned into steels.

PRODUCTION OF STEEL
Steel is an alloy containing mostly iron with small amount of carbon and other metals

Steel is produced in the basic oxygen converter.

 Molten pig iron from the blast furnace and scrap metal are put into the converter. Oxygen
and molten lime are blown onto the surface
 Carbon is oxidised to carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide while sulphur is oxidised to
sulphur dioxide. The gas escape into the atmosphere
 Silicon and phosphorus pentoxide which are solid oxide. Calcium oxide is then added to the
solid oxides (impurities) as slag by pouring it off.
A certain amount of carbon is left. Different amount of carbon will give steels with different
properties.

USES OF ZINC, COPPER, AND ALUMINIUM

Zinc: its used for making brass, outer casing of dry cells, protecting ships from corrosion, galvanising
roofing sheets

Copper: is used for making brass and bronze, electric wiring, car radiators, cooking utensils and
ornaments. It is also used to make central heating pipes as well as steam boilers

Aluminium: it is used in making duralumin- an alloy for aeroplane bodies (its resistance to
corrosion), high voltage cables, cooking utensils, drink containers, foil for covering food,
ships, aerials and space rockets
ALLOYS
An alloy is a mixture of metals or a mixture of metal with non metals

Turning a metal into an alloy increase its range of uses

There are thousands of alloys. Here are some of them

Alloy Made from Special properties Uses


brass 70% copper  Hard,  Door handle
30%zinc  Corrosion resistant  Ornamentals
 Musical instrument
Bronze 95% copper  Hard,  Church bells
5% tin  Corrosion resistant  Ornaments
 Statues sculpture
Mild steel 99.5% iron  Easily shaped  Car bodies
0.5% carbon  Hard and strong  Machinery
 Building bridges
solder 70% tin  Low melting point  Joining wires and pipes
30% lead (soldering)
Stainless steel 74% iron  Tough  Cutlery
18% chromium Corrosion resistant  Kitchen sink
8% nickel  Surgical instruments
parts
 Chemical plant

Alnico
Duralumin

Common questions

Powered by AI

In a blast furnace, iron and slag are separated based on their density difference. The molten iron, being denser, collects at the bottom of the furnace, while the slag, formed from impurities reacting with limestone, floats on top of the molten iron. This ensures that the iron can be tapped off separately from the slag. The process uses raw materials like coke, limestone, and iron ore, combined with the reactions occurring at different temperatures within the furnace, to effectively separate the dense molten iron from the lighter calcium silicate slag .

Aluminium is considered reactive because it readily forms positive ions by losing three electrons. However, it appears unreactive in many situations due to its ability to form a protective layer of aluminium oxide on its surface. This oxide layer prevents further reaction with water, acids, or other elements by acting as a barrier. Thus, while aluminium is chemically reactive, the oxide layer's stability provides it with protection, preventing further corrosion or reaction under normal conditions .

Alloys are mixtures containing metals and sometimes non-metals, and their properties often differ significantly from their constituent elements. For instance, alloys tend to have increased strength, corrosion resistance, and hardness compared to pure metals. This is due to the presence of different atoms that disrupt the regular atomic arrangement, preventing layers from sliding over each other easily. These enhanced properties make alloys advantageous for various applications, such as in construction, manufacturing, and electronics, where specific characteristics like strength and durability are essential .

The method of metal extraction is closely related to its position in the reactivity series. Highly reactive metals, such as potassium and sodium, are extracted through electrolysis, which requires significant energy due to their strong bonds and high reactivity. Less reactive metals like zinc and iron can be extracted using carbon reduction, where carbon displaces the metal from its oxide at high temperatures. Metals lower in the reactivity series, like copper, are often found in their native state or extracted using less energy-intensive methods such as thermal decomposition .

Metal extraction, particularly involving traditional methods like open-pit mining and blast furnaces, has significant environmental impacts, such as landscape disruption, energy consumption, and pollutant emissions. To mitigate these effects, advancements in recycling, the use of alternative reducing agents like hydrogen, and more efficient energy-use technologies are being developed. Additionally, rehabilitating mining sites and adopting stricter regulations on emissions can help reduce the environmental footprint of metal extraction processes. Implementing these strategies is crucial for sustainable metal production .

Carbonates of sodium and potassium are thermally stable and do not decompose upon heating due to the strong ionic bonds between the metal ions and the carbonate ion. These strong bonds require a considerable amount of energy to break, which typically is not achieved with regular heating. In contrast, carbonates of less reactive metals decompose because their bonds are weaker, allowing them to break into metal oxides and carbon dioxide under heat. This stability is attributed to the high reactivity and electropositive nature of sodium and potassium .

The extraction of iron in a blast furnace involves several key reactions. First, coke (carbon) reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide then reacts with more coke to produce carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide reduces iron(III) oxide (haematite) to liquid iron and carbon dioxide. Concurrently, limestone reacts with impurities like silica to form slag, which consists of calcium silicate. These reactions separate iron from its ore, allowing it to be collected as molten iron at the bottom of the furnace .

The reactivity series ranks metals by their reactivity. Sodium is higher up in the reactivity series than magnesium, meaning it is more reactive. Sodium reacts vigorously with acids, releasing hydrogen gas swiftly. Magnesium, while reactive, does so less vigorously than sodium due to its lower position in the series. This is because magnesium has a stronger attraction between its outer electrons and the nucleus, making it harder to lose those electrons compared to sodium. Thus, sodium reacts more violently than magnesium because it is more willing to lose its outer electron .

Zinc is significant in preventing corrosion through a process called galvanization, where a protective zinc coating is applied to iron or steel to prevent rusting. Zinc acts as a sacrificial anode; it oxidizes preferentially, preventing the underlying metal from corroding. When iron or steel is coated with zinc, any moisture or ambient chemicals react with the zinc instead of the metal beneath. This process is widely used for protecting roofing, automotive parts, and other metal structures exposed to the elements .

Delocalized electrons play a crucial role in the conductivity of metals. These electrons, which are free to move throughout the metal lattice, enable metals to conduct electricity efficiently. When an electric field is applied, these electrons can flow freely, carrying charge across the metal. This movement of electrons also facilitates the transfer of thermal energy, making metals good conductors of heat. The presence of delocalized electrons is the primary factor that allows metals to conduct electricity and heat effectively .

You might also like