🧪 Chapter – Metals and Non-Metals
=> Introduction
The earth’s crust is made up of different elements, mainly metals and non-metals.
Metals and non-metals differ in their physical and chemical properties.
=> Physical Properties of Metals
1. Lustre – Metals are shiny (metallic lustre).
2. Malleability – Can be hammered into thin sheets (e.g., gold, silver).
3. Ductility – Can be drawn into wires (e.g., copper, aluminium).
4. Conductivity – Good conductors of heat and electricity (Ag, Cu best conductors).
5. Melting & Boiling Point – High melting and boiling point (except mercury and gallium, which
are liquids at room temperature).
6. Sonority – Metals produce a ringing sound when struck.
7. Strength – Generally strong (iron is most useful due to high strength).
=> Physical Properties of Non-Metals
1. State – Generally gases (O₂, N₂), liquids (Br₂), or soft solids (sulphur, phosphorus).
2. Lustre – Generally dull (except iodine, which is lustrous).
3. Brittleness – Break easily when hammered (non-malleable, non-ductile).
4. Conductivity – Poor conductors of heat and electricity (except graphite).
5. Melting & Boiling Point – Generally low.
6. Strength – Weak and soft (except diamond, which is the hardest known natural substance).
=> . Chemical Properties of Metals
1. Reaction with Oxygen
Metals form metal oxides.
Example:
4Na + O₂ -> 2Na₂O
2Mg + O₂ -> 2MgO
Nature of oxides: Mostly basic (e.g., Na₂O, CaO) and some amphoteric (Al₂O₃, ZnO).
2. Reaction with Water
Metal + Water → Metal hydroxide + Hydrogen.
Example:
2Na + 2H₂O -> 2NaOH + H₂ ↑
3. Reaction with Acids
Metal + Dilute HCl/H₂SO₄ → Salt + Hydrogen gas.
Example:
Zn + H₂SO₄ -> ZnSO₄ + H₂ ↑
4. Reaction with Other Metal Salts (Displacement Reaction)
More reactive metal displaces less reactive metal from salt solution.
Example:
Fe + CuSO₄ -> FeSO₄ + Cu
=> Chemical Properties of Non-Metals
1. Reaction with Oxygen → Non-metal oxides (generally acidic).
Example:
C + O₂ -> CO₂
S + O₂ -> SO₂
2. Reaction with Water – Non-metals do not react with water.
3. Reaction with Acids – Generally, no reaction.
4. Reaction with Bases – Some non-metals react with bases (e.g., chlorine reacts with NaOH).
=> Reactivity Series of Metals
Arrangement of metals in order of their reactivity.
Highly Reactive: K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al
Moderately Reactive: Zn, Fe, Pb
Less Reactive: Cu, Hg
Least Reactive (Noble metals): Ag, Pt, Au
->Electronic Configuration & Valency
● Atoms have tendency to attain octet configuration (8 electrons in outermost shell) like
noble gases.
● Metals: Usually have 1–3 valence electrons → lose electrons → form cations (positive
ions).
● Non-metals: Usually have 4–7 valence electrons → gain/share electrons → form anions
(negative ions).
->Electron (Dot) Structure
● Represent valence electrons around the symbol of an element as dots (Lewis dot
symbols).
Examples:
1. Sodium (Na): 2, 8, 1 → Na•
2. Magnesium (Mg): 2, 8, 2 → Mg••
3. Oxygen (O): 2, 6 → ••O•• (6 dots)
4. Chlorine (Cl): 2, 8, 7 → Cl••••••• (7 dots around)
-> Ionic Bond (Electrovalent Bond)
● Formed when metal loses electrons and non-metal gains electrons.
● Involves transfer of electrons.
● Result → electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions.
Example 1: NaCl (Sodium Chloride)
● Na (2,8,1) loses 1 electron → Na⁺
● Cl (2,8,7) gains 1 electron → Cl⁻
Dot Structure:
Na• + Cl••••••• \rightarrow Na^+ [Cl••••••••]^-
Example 2: MgCl₂ (Magnesium Chloride)
● Mg (2,8,2) loses 2 electrons → Mg²⁺
● Each Cl (2,8,7) gains 1 electron → 2Cl⁻
Dot Structure:
Mg•• + 2Cl••••••• -> Mg2++ 2[Cl-••••••••]
->Properties of Ionic Compounds:
● Hard, crystalline solids.
● High melting and boiling points.
● Soluble in water.
● Conduct electricity in molten or aqueous state (free ions present).
->Covalent Bond
● Formed by sharing of electrons between two non-metal atoms.
● No ions formed, only molecules.
● Shared pair(s) give both atoms stable octet/duplet.
Example 1: H₂ (Hydrogen Molecule)
● Each H has 1 electron → shares 1 → stable duplet.
● Dot structure:
H• + •H \rightarrow H:H
Example 2: O₂ (Oxygen Molecule)
● Each O has 6 valence electrons → shares 2 electrons with another O.
● Double bond formed.
● Dot structure:
••O•• + ••O•• –> O=O
Example 3: N₂ (Nitrogen Molecule)
● Each N has 5 valence electrons → shares 3 electrons each.
● Triple bond formed.
● Dot structure:
N≡N
Example 4: CH₄ (Methane)
● C has 4 valence electrons.
● H has 1 electron.
● C shares 1 with each H → forms 4 single bonds.
● Dot structure:
H
|
H-C-H
|
H
->Properties of Covalent Compounds:
● Usually gases/liquids, soft solids.
● Low melting and boiling points.
● Generally insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents.
● Poor conductors of electricity (no free ions).
->Difference Between Ionic and Covalent Compounds
Property Ionic Compounds Covalent Compounds
Bonding Transfer of electrons (ions) Sharing of electrons
(molecules)
Physical state Hard, crystalline solids Gases, liquids, or soft solids
Melting/Boiling point High Low
Solubility Soluble in water Insoluble in water, soluble in
organic solvents
Conductivity Conduct electricity in Do not conduct electricity
molten/aqueous state
=> Occurrence of Metals
Native state – Unreactive metals (Au, Pt) found free in nature.
Combined state – Active metals found as oxides, sulphides, carbonates, etc.
Important Ores:
Aluminium – Bauxite (Al₂O₃·2H₂O)
Iron – Haematite (Fe₂O₃), Magnetite (Fe₃O₄)
Copper – Copper pyrite (CuFeS₂)
Zinc – Zinc blende (ZnS), Calamine (ZnCO₃)
=> Extraction of Metals
1. Metals at top of reactivity series (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Al):
Extracted by electrolysis of molten salts.
2. Metals in middle of series (Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu):
Extracted by reduction of oxides with carbon, CO, or Al.
Example:
Fe₂O₃ + 3CO \rightarrow 2Fe + 3CO₂
3. Metals at bottom of series (Ag, Au, Pt):
Found in free state; purified by simple processes.
=> Corrosion
Definition: Gradual destruction of metals due to environmental effects.
Example: Iron → Rusting (Fe₂O₃·xH₂O).
Prevention: Painting, greasing, galvanization, alloying, electroplating.
=> Alloys
Definition: Homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or metal and non-metal.
Examples:
Brass = Cu + Zn
Bronze = Cu + Sn
Steel = Fe + C
Stainless steel = Fe + Cr + Ni
Solder = Pb + Sn
=> Uses of Metals
Fe → construction, machinery.
Al → packaging, utensils, aeroplanes.
Cu → electrical wiring.
Au, Ag, Pt → jewellery.
=> Uses of Non-Metals
O₂ → respiration, burning.
N₂ → fertilizers, ammonia production.
Cl₂ → water purification.
S → vulcanization of rubber.
I₂ → antiseptic.
