Metallic Bonding and Properties of Metals

Question 1

What is metallic bonding?

Answer 1

The electrostatic attraction between positively charged metal ions and negatively charged delocalised electrons.

Question 2

Give the 4 bulk properties of metals, and link them to metallic bonding.

Answer 2

1. High melting and boiling point.
   - The electrostatic forces between metal ions and delocalised electrons are very strong, and so require a lot of energy to break them,
2. Good conductors of heat and electricity.
   - The delocalised electrons can carry an electric current and thermal energy, which they transfer easily throughout the lattice.
3. Malleable and ductile.
   - The lattice layers are able to slide over each other without breaking the bonds between the metal ions and the electrons.
4. General formulas:
   • Metal + water = metal hydroxide + hydrogen gas
   • Metal + acid = metal salt + hydrogen gas
   • Metal + oxygen = metal oxide

Question 3

What is the reactivity series?

Answer 3

The reactivity series is a list of metals in descending order of their reactivity with other substances.

Question 4

What mnemonic do we use to remember it?

Answer 4

• Please (Potassium)
• Stop (Sodium)
• Lavishly (Lithium)
• Calling (Calcium)
• Me (Magnesium)
• A (Aluminium)
• Cool (Carbon)
• Zebra (Zinc)
• Instead (Iron)
• Try (Tin)
• Learning (Lead)
• How (Hydrogen)
• Copper (Copper)
• Saves (Silver)
• Gold (Gold)
• Potatoes (Platinum)

Question 5

How can we determine the reactivity series through experiments?

Answer 5

Carry out displacement reactions, by reacting each metal with a solution of another metal ion - if the metal is more reactive than the metal in the solution, then a displacement reaction will occur.

Question 6

What is a displacement reaction?

Answer 6

A displacement reaction is when a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.