reactivity of elements

Elemental state

• the form of an element which contains one or more atoms of the same element (AKA native state)

Molecule

Formed by two or more non-metal atoms that are chemically bonded

Most elements naturally exist as compounds

• most element nuturally exist combined with other types of elements to form compounds

Eg:

→ carbon bonded w/t elements like oxygen→ CO2

→ hydrogen & chlorine = more stable when bonded as hydrogenchloride (HCl)

→ aluminium common only found in mined minerals (eg: bauxite) or bonded w/t 02 for aluminiumoxide (Al2)3)

Compund

• a substance made up of two or more different chemical elements combined in a fixed ratio

Atoms for compounds to become more stable

• Gold is found in its elemental state because of its tendency to react to become more stable

Covalent bonds

• electrons are shared when there ate two non-metal atoms to achieve a full valance shell for each atom which leads you to the formation of a more stable compound

Ores & mineral

• deposit in Earth’s outermost layer contains useful metal & other minerals

→ 4 main types→ metal oxides, metal carbonates, metal sulphides & metal halides

Minerals = a basic building block of rocks characterised by four traits

Reactivity series

• the reactivity series is ordered so the metals & non-metals can be isolated from Ores & minerals

→ the least reactive elements (eg: gold, silver& platinum) are most likely to be found in their elemental state

→ the most highly reactive elements (eg: potassium,sodium & lithium) are more likely to bond with other atoms, so they are rarely found in their elemental state

Extraction methods

• the method o extraction to an isolate an element depends on the position of the element

1. Electrolysis - uses electricity to seperate the metals & non-metals from a pure liquid compound into individual elements

2. Reduction - is done by heating the metal ore in air (oxygen) & for some metals in addition of carbon dioxide (zinc & iron)

3. Physical separation - from materials like ore, electronic watse, or alloyed metal → fractions; distillation separated mixtures of liquid non-meta; elements based on different boiling points

Reactive order

• potassium

• Sodium

• Calcium

• Lithium

• Magnesium

• Aluminium

(Carbon)

• zinc

• Iron

• Nickel

• Tin

(Hydrogen)

• copper

• Mercury

• Silver

• Gold

• Platinum

Reactivity order meaning

• if elements is more reactive than carbon, then electrolysis is used

• If the element is less reactive than carbon and more reactive than hydrogen then reductive with heat,air (oxygen) and carbon (with zinc& iron)

• If the elemental is least reactive it can be found in its elemental state and therefore physically seperated