Metals and non-metals chem

Metals

Metals

Elements that possess physical properties such as a shiny appearance, good conductivity of heat and electricity, malleability, ductility, high melting and boiling points, sonorous or clangorous sound, and high density.

Conductivity and Ductility

Metals have high thermal and electrical conductivity due to the presence of free electrons that can move easily. They also exhibit ductility, allowing them to be drawn into thin wires without breaking.

Density and Strength

Metals generally have high density and strength, making them suitable for structural applications. Some metals like titanium and magnesium are lightweight yet strong, making them ideal for aerospace and automotive industries.

Corrosion Resistance

Certain metals like aluminum and stainless steel form protective oxide layers, providing resistance to corrosion. Noble metals like gold and platinum are highly resistant to tarnishing or corrosion.

Metallurgy and Heat Treatment

Metallurgical processes like annealing, tempering, and quenching are used to modify metals' properties for specific applications. Heat treatment alters the structure and properties of metals, improving hardness, toughness, or elasticity.

Chemical Properties

Metals tend to lose electrons to form positively charged ions (cations). They react with acids to produce hydrogen gas and form basic oxides when they react with oxygen.

Reactivity

Metals tend to lose electrons easily, forming positively charged ions (cations) in reactions.

Reaction with Acids

Many metals react with acids to produce hydrogen gas and form metal salts.

Oxides

Metals form basic oxides when they react with oxygen.

Alloys

Metals often form alloys by combining with other metals or non-metals, improving their properties. Examples include steel (iron and carbon), brass (copper and zinc), and bronze (copper and tin).

Occurrence and Extraction

Metals are found in nature as ores and are extracted through processes like smelting and electrolysis. Some metals are highly reactive and are found in compounds, while others are found in their pure form.

Mining

The process of locating and identifying ores containing metals and extracting them from the Earth's crust using techniques like open-pit mining, shaft mining, or solution mining.

Concentration of Ore

The process of crushing, grinding, and separating the valuable mineral content from the waste (gangue) based on the physical and chemical properties of the ore.

Extractive Metallurgy

The process of removing impurities from ores and extracting the metal through processes like roasting or calcination, reduction, and electrolysis.

Refining and Purification

The process of removing impurities from the extracted metal through refining processes like electrolysis, distillation, or fractional crystallization. Alloying involves combining metals with other elements to form alloys.

Environmental Impact

The significant environmental impacts of mining and extraction processes, such as habitat disruption, soil erosion, water pollution, and emission of greenhouse gases. Efforts are made to minimize these impacts through sustainable mining practices and technological advancements.

Technological Advances

Ongoing research focuses on developing more efficient and environmentally friendly extraction processes, including the use of bioleaching and recycling methods to minimize the need for new extraction.

Uses and Applications

Metals are widely used in construction, electrical wiring, machinery, transportation, production of coins, jewelry, and various alloys for specific purposes.

Reactivity Series

The arrangement of metals in order of their reactivity with other substances, useful for predicting displacement reactions and the behavior of metals in various reactions.

Non-Metals

Elements that lack luster, are poor conductors of heat and electricity (except for graphite and some non-metals in the molten state), brittle when solid, and can exist in various states at room temperature.

Allotropes

Some non-metals exist in different structural forms called allotropes, such as carbon with diamond, graphite, and fullerene, each having distinct properties.

Halogen Family

Group 17 elements known as halogens, highly reactive non-metals used in various applications like disinfectants, water purification, and pharmaceuticals.

Electronegativity and Bonding

Non-metals generally have higher electronegativity compared to metals, leading to the formation of covalent or ionic bonds with other elements.

Role in Organic Compounds

Non-metals like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur are essential in forming the backbone of organic compounds found in living organisms.

Trends in Reactivity

Reactivity generally decreases across a period from left to right among metals, while non-metals become more reactive. Metals become more reactive down a group, while non-metals become less reactive.