a metal is an element which ionizes by losing electrons, the element is electropositive
General Properties Of Metals:
Metals are reducing agents
Metals react with air or oxygen and form basic oxides
Most metals react with dilute acids to form salt and hydrogen
Most metals react with water to form hydroxides and hydrogen
Most metals react with steam to form oxides and hydrogen
Metals generally react with non-metals to form ionic compounds
Metals at the top of the reactivity series are the most electropositive, they lose electrons easily to form stable ions which are not easily discharged
Metals at the bottom of the reactivity series are the least electropositive, they lose electrons with difficulty and form unstable ions which are easily discharged
Decreasing down the reactivity series is: ease of ionization, reactivity, stability of compounds and strength as a reducing agent
A metal reduces the oxide of any metal below it in the reactivity series, this is a displacement reaction
A metal will displace a metal which is lower than itself in the reactivity series from a solution of the metal salt, this is a redox reaction
