Metals and Non-Metals

Plastic

• Most plastic is made from crude oil
• Monomers join together to make polymers

Examples of plastics

• $Polythene$: silage wrap and plastic bags
• $Polystyrene$: hot drink cup and box packaging
• $Polypropylene$: plastic chairs
• $Nylon$: thread, tights and combs
• $P.V.C:$ windows, electrical wires and insulation

Properties of plastic

• $Easily moulded$
• $Easy to maintain$ => no $rust$ and $rot$
• $Cheap$
• $Light$ => low $density$
• $Very good insulator$ => for $heat$ and $electricity$
• $Can be coloured$ => dye
• $Doesn’t breakdown$ => bad for the environment

The effect of plastic on the environment

1. $Non-biodegradable$

   Most can’t be broken down by micro-organisms

   Lots of $landfill$

2. $Poisonous fumes$

   When burned they give off poisonous fumes

   Can cause $death$

Physical properties

• $Physical properties can be observed or measured without changing the composition of matter$
• Physical properties are used to observe and describe matter
• Physical properties include:
  • appearance
  • texture
  • colour
  • melting point
  • density
  • solubility
  • polarity

Chemical properties

$Chemical properties of matter describes it’s potential to undergo. Some chemicals change or reaction by virtue of its compsition.$

Example: hydrogen has the potential to ignite and explode given the $right conditions$. This is a chemical property

Metals in general have the $chemical property$ of $reacting with an acid$

Example: Zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas

Changes

$Physical change$: no new substances formed

$Chemical change$: at least one new substance formed

Metals

Alkali Metals (Group I)

• Don’t occur freely => form compounds
• Want to lose 1 outer shell
• Stored under oil => away from air and water

1. The alkali metals react with water => $hydrogen gas$ given off and hydrogen gas is given off and a hydrogen compound is formed
2. Alkali metals $tarnish$ in air => react with air to form $oxides$

Examples

• $Lithium$: batteries
• $Sodium$: street lights
• $Potassium$: fertilisers

Physical properties

1. The metals can be $cut$ with a knife
   • $shiny$ when cut
   • go $dull$ after
2. Metals are good $conducter$ of electricity
3. $Low density$
   • float in water
4. $Low$ melting point

Chemical properties

1. Must be stored under $oil$
2. $Shiny$ when cut
3. $Burn$ in air
   • $coloured flames$
4. React vigorously with $cold water$
   • heat from reaction $melts$ metals