METALS

Properties of Metals
Extraction of Metals
Uses of Metals
Metals: What are Metals?
Its rather hard to imagine a world without metals.
Look around you the chairs youre sitting on
have metal frames; the cutlery you use during
recess is made of steel (an alloy of iron); the wires
in your MP3 player are made of copper, another
metal
What exactly are metals and what makes them
suitable for the uses which we put them to?
Metals: Physical Properties
Metals are malleable
They can be bent into many
shapes.
Metals are ductile
They can be drawn in thin
wires.
Metals are good
conductors of
electricity
They are made into wires
and various electrical goods
like lamps, etc.
Metals: Physical Properties
Metals are good conductors
of heat
They are made into heating
coils and cooking instruments
like woks and pans.

Metals have high melting
and boiling points
They are made into filaments of
lamps which can glow white hot
and still not melt i.e. tungsten
Exception: Mercury The only
liquid metal
Metals: What is an Alloy?
An alloy is a mixture
of 2 or more metallic
elements e.g. brass,
pewter
Some even contain
non-metallic elements
e.g. steel
Alloys are stronger and
harder than pure
metals. Why?
Metals: What is an Alloy?
Pure metals are too soft because the layers
of atoms can slide over each other easily
Metals: What is an Alloy?
In an alloy, atoms of different metals are of
different sizes.
This disrupts the orderly layers of atoms
and makes it much harder for the layers to
slide over each other.

Metals: What is an Alloy?
Only small quantities of other elements need to be
added to make a pure metal stronger and harder.
Most metals used are alloys, because they are
tougher and stronger.
DURALUMIN
Copper + Aluminium
BRASS
Copper + Zinc
BRONZE
Copper + Tin/Aluminium
Metals: Chemical Properties
Reaction with Water
Metals react with water in varying degrees of intensity,
to produce a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
[VIDEO]
Sodium + Water
Metals: Chemical Properties
Reaction with Hydrochloric Acid
Metals also react with hydrochloric acid in varying
degrees of intensity to produce a metal chloride
and hydrogen gas
Metals: The Reactivity Series
Not all metals react the same way
Some react vigorously fast; others react slowly, some
dont react at all
Metals can be listed in order of reactivity
The Reactivity Series
The most reactive metal is at the top
Metals: The Reactivity Series
A metal high in the series
Reacts vigorously and quickly with chemicals
Corrodes easily
A metal low in the series
Does not react vigorously with chemicals
Does not corrode easily
Au Ag Cu [H] Pb Sn Fe Zn Al Mg Ca Na K
Least
Reactive
Most
Reactive
Metals: Rusting of Iron & Steel
Corrosion of iron and steel in air rusting

Iron + Oxygen Iron (III) oxide
2Fe + 3O
2
Fe
2
O
3

Conditions
Presence of water (moisture)
Presence of oxygen (air)
Metals: Prevention of Rusting
Coating with layer of
another substance,
stopping air/water
from reaching the
iron/steel underneath
Paint (cars)
Oil/Grease (machinery;
aids in lubrication)
Once breached, rusting
will still occur
Metals: Prevention of Rusting
Coating with another metal which corrodes in
place Sacrificial protection
Zinc (Galvanising; prevent rusting of ship hulls)
Magnesium (prevent rusting of undersea steel pipes)
Metal will rust in place even if coating layer is breached
Metals: Prevention of Rusting
Method Use
Covering with paint Large iron and steel pipes
e.g. cars, bridges, ships
Covering with grease/oil Machinery; aids in
lubrication
Tin plating Canned food
Chromium plating Aesthetically pleasing
because chromium is
shiny
Metals: Prevention of Rusting
Method Use
Galvanising Corrugated iron sheets
for roofing
Zinc blocks Steel hulls of ships
Magnesium blocks Underground steel pipes
Alloy (Steel) Cutlery, medical
instruments, kitchen
sinks, etc
Metals: The Extraction of Metals
Metals seldom occur in nature in their pure
form commonly found as ores (ionic
compounds of the metal + a non-metal)
Bauxite (aluminium)
Cassiterite (tin)
Galena (lead)
Haematite (iron)

Metals: The Extraction of Metals
The rock is first removed
from the mineral and the
mineral is then purified via
chemical means
Very reactive metals
(electrolysis)
E.g Aluminium
Moderately reactive metals
(heated with other compounds)
E.g. Iron
Unreactive metals (found
uncombined)
E.g. gold
Metals: The Extraction of Iron
Iron ore haematite
Extraction process
occurs in a blast
furnace where
temperatures can
reach over 1600 C
Metals: The Extraction of Iron
Metals: The Extraction of Iron
1. Coke (carbon) reacts with oxygen (air) to
form carbon dioxide & heat
C
(s)
+ O
2

(g)
CO
2

(g)
Metals: The Extraction of Iron
2. Carbon dioxide reacts with more coke
to form carbon monoxide.
C
(s)
+ CO
2

(g)
2CO
(g)
Metals: The Extraction of Iron
3. Carbon monoxide reacts with iron (III)
oxide to produce molten iron.
Fe
2
O
3

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

(g)
Metals: The Extraction of Iron
4. Limestone decomposes in heat to
produce calcium oxide and carbon
dioxide.
CaCO
3

(s)
CO
2

(g)
+ CaO
(s)
Metals: The Extraction of Iron
5. Impurities are present in the molten iron
i.e. silicon, sulphur & phosphorus.
Silicon is found as silicon dioxide
(acidic) which reacts with calcium oxide
(basic) to form calcium silicate (slag).
CaO
(s)
+ SiO
2

(s)
CaSiO
3

(l)
Metals: Recycling
Metals are a non-renewable resource Will
not last forever
Alternatives?
Making use of other metals in place
Recycling

Metals: Recycling
Why Recycle?
Saves cost of metal extraction from ores
Prevents unsightly dumping of unwanted
iron/steel
Prevents the leaching of harmful heavy metals
into soil
Disadvantage: Recycling metals can
sometimes be polluting.
Metals: Recycling