Tutorial 9 : Metals

1. General Physical Properties of Metals

Metals generally exhibit distinct physical properties compared to non-metals.

●​ Conductivity: Metals are good conductors of heat because they contain delocalised
electrons that are free to move around and carry thermal energy. Similarly, metals are
good conductors of electricity as these delocalised electrons are free to carry charge.
Non-metals, conversely, are poor conductors of electricity and heat.
●​ Malleability and Ductility: Metals are malleable (can be bent and shaped easily) and
ductile (can be stretched and pulled without breaking). This flexibility arises because the
positive metal ions are arranged in uniform rows, allowing them to slide over one
another.
●​ Melting and Boiling Points: Metals typically have high melting and boiling points because
they are giant structures held together by strong metallic bonding, requiring a large
amount of energy to overcome the strong electrostatic attraction between the positive
metal ions and negative electrons to change state.

2. Chemical Reactivity and Reactions

The Reactivity Series organizes metals (and non-metals carbon and hydrogen) based on their
reactivity, ranging from potassium (most reactive) to gold (least reactive). The reactivity of a
metal is determined by its tendency to form positive ions by losing its outer shell electrons.

Metals exhibit predictable chemical reactions:

●​ Dilute Acids: Metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series react with dilute acids in a
displacement reaction to form a salt and hydrogen gas. For instance, Sodium reacts with
Hydrochloric acid to form Sodium chloride and Hydrogen gas. Metals less reactive than
hydrogen will not displace hydrogen and thus will not form a salt.
●​ Water and Steam: Highly reactive metals, such as Potassium, Sodium, and Calcium,
react with cold water to form a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas. Potassium reacts
most vigorously. Less reactive metals, such as Magnesium, react with steam (H₂O (g)) to
form a metal oxide and hydrogen gas, often reacting more vigorously with steam than
with water.
●​ Oxygen: Metals react with oxygen to form a metal oxide, with the speed of reaction
depending on the metal’s reactivity.
In displacement reactions, a more reactive metal will replace a less reactive metal in a
compound. For example, Calcium is higher than Zinc in the series, allowing it to displace Zinc
ions in Zinc sulfate to form Calcium sulfate. Aluminium appears unreactive because it forms a
protective, unreactive aluminium oxide layer upon exposure to oxygen, preventing further
oxidation of the underlying metal.

3. Uses of Metals and Alloys

Metals are utilized based on their specific physical properties.

●​ Aluminium: Used in aircraft manufacturing due to its low density. It is also used in
overhead electrical cables due to its low density and good electrical conductivity, and in
food containers because of its resistance to corrosion (due to the oxide layer).
●​ Copper: Used in electrical wiring due to its good electrical conductivity and ductility.

Alloys are mixtures of a metal with other elements, combined to enhance specific properties,
often resulting in greater strength or resistance to corrosion than pure metals.

●​ Structure and Strength: Pure metals are soft and malleable because their
identically-sized atoms are arranged in neat layers that can slide over one another. In
alloys, the presence of different sized atoms distorts these layers, making them unable
to slide, which results in increased hardness and strength.
●​ Examples: Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Stainless steel, an alloy of iron with
elements like chromium, nickel, and carbon, is used for items like cutlery because it is
harder than pure iron and resistant to rusting.

4. Corrosion and Prevention

Corrosion is the destruction of materials through chemical reactions with environmental

●​ Rusting: Rusting specifically applies to iron and steel, which occurs when they are in the
presence of both water and oxygen, forming hydrated iron(III) oxide (an oxidation
reaction).
●​ Barrier Methods: Rusting is prevented by excluding oxygen or water contact using
barrier methods like painting, greasing, oiling, coating with plastic, or galvanising.
 ●​ Sacrificial Protection: Galvanising (coating iron or steel with zinc) is also an example of
sacrificial protection. Since zinc is higher in the reactivity series than iron, the zinc layer
is more likely to be oxidized (lose electrons) to form positive ions, thereby protecting the
iron underneath.

5. Extraction of Metals

The method used to extract a metal from its ore (a rock or mineral containing combined metals)
depends on its position in the reactivity series.

●​ Unreactive Metals: Metals like gold and silver are found in the pure, uncombined form
and do not require chemical reactions for extraction.
●​ Metals Below Carbon (e.g., Zinc, Iron): These are extracted by reduction with
carbon, as carbon is higher in the reactivity series and displaces the metal ions in the
compounds (e.g., zinc oxide or iron oxide).
○​ Iron Extraction (Blast Furnace): Iron is extracted from its main ore, hematite
(iron(III) oxide), using raw materials: hematite, coke (carbon), limestone (calcium
carbonate), and air.
○​ Coke burns to produce heat and carbon dioxide.

○​ The carbondioxide is then reduced to carbon monoxide.

○​ The carbon monoxide reduces the iron(III) oxide to pure iron.

○​ Limestone decomposes to calcium oxide, which removes impurities like sand

●​ Reactive Metals Above Carbon (e.g., Potassium, Aluminium): These metals are
extracted using electrolysis.
○​ Aluminium Extraction: Aluminium is extracted from purified bauxite (aluminium
oxide). Aluminium oxide, which has a very high melting point, is dissolved in
molten cryolite to lower the melting point of the electrolyte, reducing energy
costs. During electrolysis, aluminium ions (Al³⁺) gain electrons (reduction) at the
cathode to form pure molten aluminium. Oxide ions (O²⁻) lose electrons
(oxidation) at the anode to form oxygen gas; this oxygen reacts with the carbon
anodes, causing them to erode into carbon dioxide, necessitating regular
replacement.