The chemical properties of metals

• Most elements

  Metals
• Metal atoms

  Lose electrons to form positive ions
• Chemical reactions of metals

  • When magnesium burns in air, each atom loses two electrons to form a Mg2+ ion
  • When sodium reacts with chlorine, each sodium atom loses one electron to form a Na+ ion
• How a sodium atom becomes a sodium ion

  Loses an electron
• Elements that do not form positive ions in their chemical reaction are non-metals
• Most metal oxides

  Are basic
• Most non-metal oxides

  Are acidic
• Chemical properties of metals

  Their reactions with other substances
• Metals can react with non-metals

  • Calcium + chlorine → calcium chloride
• When naming a compound the ending of the non-metal is changed to ide
• Metals can react with

  • Air (oxygen)
  • Water
  • Acids
• Reactive metals

  Metals that react very quickly
• Reactive metal

  • Calcium
• Unreactive metals


  Metals that do not react quickly
• Unreactive metal

  • Gold
• What is an Ion

  An ion is an Electrically charged particle, formed when an atom or molecule gains or loses electrons.