Addo – Gyimeh’s Lib

METALS AND NON-METALS

Elements may be classified into metals and non-metals on the basis of their chemical and physical properties.
Metals: Metals are elements that undergo chemical reaction (ionize) to form positive ions (cations) by losing
one or more electrons. They are found on the left hand side of the periodic table except hydrogen. Examples
are lithium (Li), beryllium (Be), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al), potassium (K), copper (Cu),
gold (Au), tin (Sn), mercury (Hg), iron (Fe), silver (Ag), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca)
etc.

Non-metals: Non-metals are elements whose atoms accept electron(s) in chemical reaction. They form
negative ions (anions) by gaining electron(s) to be stable. Non-metals are found on the right-hand side of the
periodic table. Examples are hydrogen (H), helium (He), carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), fluorine (F),
neon (Ne), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S), chlorine (Cl), argon (Ar), iodine (I), etc.

Semi-metals or metalloids: They are elements whose properties lie between metals and non-metals. Examples
are boron (B), silicon (Si), arsenic (As), gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), tellurium (Te), etc.

Physical Properties of Metals

1. They have high melting point.
2. They have high boiling point.
3. They are good conductors of heat.
4. They are good conductors of electricity.
5. They are malleable (they can be beaten or hammered into different shapes).
6. They are ductile (they can be drawn into wires).
7. They are lustrous (they have shinny appearance or surface).
8. They have high densities.
9. They have high tensile strength (they have the ability to bear weight and force without tearing apart).
10. They are sonorous (they produce sound when struck).
11. They are mostly solid at room temperature except Mercury which is liquid.

Physical Properties of Non-metals

1. Non-metals are bad conductors of heat.
2. They are poor conductors of electricity except graphite.
3. They have low density.
4. They are brittle (not malleable).
5. They have low melting.
6. They have low boiling points.
7. They have dull appearance.
8. They are mostly gas at room temperature

Chemical Properties of Metals

1. Metals react with water to form metal hydroxide or oxide and hydrogen.
Mg(s) + H2O(l) → MgO(s) + H2(g) (Mg and Fe react only with boiling water or steam.)
3Fe(s) + 4H2O(l) → Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g)

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Na(s) + H2O(l) → NaOH(aq) + H2(g) (Na and K react violently with cold water and generate heat.)
2
Ca(s) + H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)

2. Metals react dilute acids to form salts and hydrogen gas.

Zn(s) + H2SO4(aq) MgSO4(aq) + H2(g)
Ca(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2 + H2(g) (Ca and Mg react vigorously with dilute acid.)
3
Al(s) + 3HCl(aq) → AlCl3(s) + H2(g)
2
Fe(s) + 2HCl(aq) → FeCl2(s) + H2(g)
3. Reactive metals react oxygen to form metallic oxides. Examples of reactive metals are Na, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn,
Fe, etc.
1
2Na(s) + O2(g) → Na2O(s) (white solid)
2
1
Ca(s) + O2(g) → CaO(s) (white solid)
2
1
Mg + O2(g) → MgO(s) (white solid)
2
3
2Al(s) + O2(g) → Al2O3(s) (white solid) prevents further reaction
2
1
2Fe(s) + O2(g) → Fe2O3(s) (brown solid)
2
4. They form positive ions by losing electrons.
Na Na+ + e-
Mg Mg2+ + 2e-
Al Al3+ + 3e-

Metals which react with both acid and base are described as amphoteric metals. Examples are Al, Zn and Pb.
Unreactive metals such as silver, gold and copper are not are affected by air, water, acid and base.

Reactivity of metals
This refers to how metals react chemically with oxygen, water and acids. The rate at which metals react
depends on their ability to release valence electron(s).
Metals can be classified into reactive metals and non-reactive metals.

Reactive metals: They are metals which react with oxygen, water and acid. Examples of reactive metals are
lithium, sodium, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, aluminum etc.

Non-reactive metals: They are metals which do not react with oxygen, water and acid. Examples of non-
reactive metals are silver, gold, platinum etc.

Chemical Properties of Non-metals

1. Non-metals usually form negative ions by gaining electrons (electronegative)
F- + e- F
2-
O + 2e- O
2. Non-metals react with oxygen to form acidic or neutral oxide.
C + O2 → CO2
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S + O2 → SO2
3. Non-metals do not react with water to give hydrogen. This is because they do not give electrons to
hydrogen ions of water to reduce them to hydrogen gas.
4. Non-metals react with hydrogen to form covalent hydride.
H2 + F2 → 2HF

Physical Properties of Semi-Metals

1. They are usually brittle but shinny in appearance.
2. They are good conductors.
3. They are better insulators than metals.

Uses of Metals
1. Metals are used for making roofing sheets (Aluminium, Zinc).
2. Aluminium is used to make household utensils.
3. Aluminium is used to make foil for packaging.
4. Aluminium is used to make aeroplanes.
5. Aluminium is used to make ladders and staircases.
6. Aluminium is used to make doors and window frames.
7. Aluminium is used to make engine blocks or body panels.
8. Aluminium is used to make roofing sheets.
9. Aluminium is used to make satellite dish.
10. Aluminium is used to make laboratory equipment.
11. Copper is used for electrical conductors in cables and wires.
12. Copper is combined with Zinc and Scandium to form alloys (Brass and Bronze respectively).
13. Copper is used for making ornamental works such as jewelry.
14. Copper can be used for making water pipes and boilers (kettles).
15. Copper is used to make coins.
16. Copper is used to make car brakes.
17. Copper is used to make musical instruments.
18. Copper is used to make bearing of cars.
19. Copper is used to make semi-conductors.
20. Platinum is used to make jewellery.
21. Tin is used to make tin cans.
22. Titanium is used to make aircraft bodies.
23. Sodium is used as coolant in fast-breeder nuclear reactor.
24. Cobalt is used with iron to make powerful magnets.
25. Iron is used for making cutlery (spoons, table knives and forks).
26. Iron is used for making drilling and cutting implements.
27. Zinc is used for making roofing sheets.
28. Zinc may also be sued for coating Iron (galvanizing) to prevent rusting.
29. Gold is used for making coins (money).
30. Nickel is used in thermometers (heat meters).
31. Mercury is used as liquid in thermometers.

Uses of Non-Metals

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1. Neon is used in neon lights or signs and gas lasers.

2. Activated carbon is used as an absorbent in purification process.
3. Graphite (carbon) is used for electrodes, lubricants in machinery and pencil.
4. Diamond (carbon) is used to make jewelry.
5. Oxygen is used in pure state for respiration in hospitals.
6. Oxygen is used with hydrogen (oxy-hydrogen) as fuel for rockets.
7. Chlorine gas is used as disinfectant and for water treatment.
8. Chlorine is used for bleaching.
9. Chlorine is used to make hydrochloric acid.
10. Sulphur is use mainly in the manufacture of Sulphuric acid..
11. Sulphur is also used for the manufacture of rubber, fertilizers and wood pulp for paper.
12. Sulphur is used to make insecticides and fungicides.
13. Hydrogen is used for the manufacture of ammonia and margarine.
14. Argon is used to provide inert atmosphere for welding and for filling electric bulbs (fluorescent).

Uses of Semi-metals or Metalloids

1. Silicon is used in solar cells to convert solar energy into electrical energy in calculators and watches.
2. Silicon is used for making transistors in radios.
3. Silicon is used for making rectifiers to convert alternate current (a.c) to direct current (d.c).
4. Silicon is used for making microchips (memory card) in TV, computer, radio, calculator, pen drive etc.

ALLOYS
An alloy is a uniform mixture of two or more metals. OR
An alloy is a uniform mixture of a metal and another metal or a non-metal. Alloys are often prepared by
mixing their constituents in molten state. Alloys may be a mixture of metals, metals and non-metals or metals
and metalloids. Alloys are made and used because their properties are more useful than that of their constituent
elements. Some common examples of alloys and their constituent metals are tabulated below.
Name of alloy Properties Constituent elements
Yellow , not corrode, lustrous and
Brass Copper 70% and Zinc 30%
hard
Yellow-brown in colour, harder
Bronze Copper 85% and Tin 15%
than copper and tin
Duralumin Not corrode, low density Aluminium 96%, copper 4% Manganese
Lustrous, hard, withstand high
Nichrome Nickel 80%, Chromium 20%
temperature, good electrical resistor
Solder Soft, low melting point Lead and Tin
Hard, high tensile strength, resist
Steel Iron, less than 1% Carbon
corrosion,
Stainless steel Stronger than iron, resist corrosion Iron 79%, Chromium 18%, Nickel 2%, Carbon

Advantages of alloys over pure metals

1. Alloys are harder than the pure metals they are made up of.
2. Alloys are resistance to corrosion.
3. Alloys are stronger than the constituent pure metals.
4. They are cheaper than constituent pure metals.
5. They are usually less malleable and ductile then pure metals from which they are made.
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6. They have lower melting points than their pure metals.

Uses of Alloys
1. Alloys are used for making ornaments (Brass, Bronze stainless steel).
2. Solder is used for joining electrical wires and components.
3. Bronze is used for making coins (money).
4. Bronze is used for making medals.
5. Bronze is used for making machine parts.
6. Duralumin is used for building aeroplanes and ships.
7. Duralumin is used for making windows frames.
8. Brass is used for making musical instruments and door fittings (locks).
9. Stainless steel is used for making cutlery, surgical instruments and kitchen sinks.
10. Stainless steel is used for making decorating vehicles.
11. Stainless steel is used for making jet plane parts.
12. Stainless steel is used for making food processing materials.
13. Steel is used in building bridges and towers (tall buildings).
14. Steel is used in making vehicle parts.
15. Nichrome is used for making heating elements in kettles and water heaters.

NB: Alloys and non-reactive metals are mostly used for making ornaments, jewelry and household items
because they do not react with atmospheric oxygen, water and acid. They remain lustrous for a longer time in
usage.

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