Metals

• What are metals?

  Metals are elements whose atoms have a small number of valence electrons, usually 1, 2, 3.
• What group in the periodic table are metals found?

  Group 1 ,2, 3
• What is the name given to bonding between metal atoms?

  Metallic bonding
• What are the components of a metal lattice?

  Metal cations surrounded by a sea of delocalised, mobile electrons and that lattice is held together by strong electrostatic forces of attraction
• What are the 5 main properties of metals

  1. Metals have high melting points and boiling points
  2. Metals are good conductors of electricity and heat
  3. Metals have a shy lustre
  4. Metals are hard, malleable and ductile.
  5. Metals have high densities
• Why do metals have high boiling points?

  The positive cations and negative , delocalised electrons are relatively strong which result in large amounts of heat energy being used to break them.
• At what state majority of metals found in at Room temperature with the exception of mercury?

  Solid
• Why are metals good conductors of heat and light?

  The delocalised electrons act as charge carriers allowing an electric current to be carried through the metal and heat aswell.
• Why do metals have a shiny lustre?

  Mobile electrons reflect photons of light back from the metals surface before the are allowed to penetrate far into the surface.
• Define hard, malleable and ductile in terms of metals?

  1. Hard: They are not easily damages
  2. Malleable: They can be bent into different shapes
  3. Ductile: They can be drawn into wires
• Why can metals be drawn into wires?

  The atoms in the metal are all of the same type, therefore they are all the same size and if force is applied to the metal, atoms can roll over each other into new positions without breaking the metallic bond.
• Why do metals have high densities?

  There atoms are packed very closely, there as many metal atoms as possible in a given volume of metal.
• What the general equation for the formation of a cations?

  $M\rightarrow M^n+$$ne^-$
• In terms of redox what do metals act as when they react to form ionic compounds?

  Reducing agents
• What are the main reactions that occur with metals?

  1. Metals reacting with oxygen
  2. Metals reacting with water
  3. Reactions of metals with dilute acids
• What is the product when metals react with oxygen?

  Metal oxides
• What is the product when water or steam reacts with metals?

  1. Water produces metal hydroxide and hydrogen
  2. Steam produces metal oxide and hydrogen
• Which metals can react with water?

  1. Potassium
  2. Sodium
  3. Calcium
  4. Magnesium
• Which metals react with steam?

  1. Magnesium
  2. Aluminum
  3. Zinc
  4. Iron
  5. Copper
• What is the result when reactive metals react with acids?

  Salt and hydrogen gas
• Which metals react with hydrochloric acid?

  1. Potassium
  2. Sodium
  3. Calcium
  4. Magnesium
  5. Aluminum
  6. Zinc
  7. Iron
• Which two metals do not react with hydrochloric acid?

  Copper and silver do not react with dilute acids.
• Which metal compounds react form reactions?

  1. Metal oxides
  2. Metal hydroxides
  3. Metal carbonates
• What is the product when metal oxides and acid reacts?

  Salt and water
• What is the product when metal hydroxides react with acids?

  Salt and water
• What is the result when metal carbonates react with an acid?

  Salt + carbon-dioxide+ water
• When do metal compounds decompose?

  When heated
• Which metal nitrates decompose when heated and what do they form?(10)

  1. Potassium- Metal Nitrites(s)+ oxygen
  2. Sodium- Metal Nitrite(s) + oxygen
  3. Calcium- Metal oxide(s)+ Nitrogen dioxide + Oxygen
  4. Magnesium-Metal oxide(s)+ Nitrogen dioxide + Oxygen
  5. Aluminium-Metal oxide(s)+ Nitrogen dioxide + Oxygen
  6. Zinc-Metal oxide(s)+ Nitrogen dioxide + Oxygen
  7. Iron-Metal oxide(s)+ Nitrogen dioxide + Oxygen
  8. Lead-Metal oxide(s)+ Nitrogen dioxide + Oxygen
  9. Copper-Metal oxide(s)+ Nitrogen dioxide + Oxygen
  10. Silver- silver+ nitrogen dioxide+ oxygen
• Which metal carbonates decompose when heated and what do they form?

  1. Calcium- Metal oxide + Carbon dioxide
  2. Magnesium - Metal oxide + Carbon dioxide
  3. Aluminum- Metal oxide + Carbon dioxide
  4. Zinc - Metal oxide + Carbon dioxide
  5. Iron- Metal oxide + Carbon dioxide
  6. Lead- Metal oxide + Carbon dioxide
  7. Copper- Metal oxide + Carbon dioxide
• Which metal hydroxides decompose when heated and what do they form?

  1. Calcium- Metal oxide + steam
  2. Magnesium -Metal oxide + steam
  3. Aluminium-Metal oxide + steam
  4. Zinc-Metal oxide + steam
  5. Iron-Metal oxide + steam
  6. Lead-Metal oxide + steam
  7. Copper- Metal oxide + steam
• Which metal compounds do not decompose because they are stable?

  1. Potassium and Sodium Carbonates
  2. Potassium and Sodium Hydroxides
• Which metal compounds does not exist due too it being too unstables?

  1. Silver Carbonate
  2. Silver hydroxide
• What is the reactivity series of metals from most reactive to least reactive in order?


  1. Potassium
  2. Sodium
  3. Calcium
  4. Magnesium
  5. Aluminium
  6. Zinc
  7. Iron
  8. Lead
  9. Hydrogen
  10. Copper
  11. Mercury
  12. Silver
  13. Gold