Metals Flashcards
What are some general properties of metals? (5)
- Conduct electricity & heat
- Malleable & ductile
- High melting & boiling points
- Lustrous (shiny)
- Dense & strong
How do metal atoms form ions?
They lose valence electrons and form positive ions (cations).
How can you predict the charge of a metal ion?
Group 1 → 1+ charge (e.g., Na⁺)
Group 2 → 2+ charge (e.g., Ca²⁺)
Group 13 → 3+ charge (e.g., Al³⁺)
What happens to the electron configuration of a metal ion?
It becomes the same as the nearest noble gas.
What is the structure of metals?
- Metal atoms lose valence electrons and form cations.
- Cations arrange in a tightly packed lattice.
- Delocalized electrons move freely.
What holds the metal lattice together?
Metallic bonding - The strong electrostatic attraction between delocalized electrons and metal cations.
What does reactivity mean?
How easily a metal undergoes a chemical reaction.
What is an inert metal?
A metal that does not react easily, e.g., gold (Au) & platinum (Pt)
Reactivity trends.
increases as you move down a group and decreases as you move across a period from left to right
What happens when metals react with water?
They form metal hydroxides and hydrogen gas.
Which metals react the most with water?
Group 1 metals
What happens when metals react with oxygen?
They form metal oxides.
Which metals react fastest with oxygen?
Group 1 metals → React quickly.
Group 2 metals → React slowly.
Transition metals → React very slowly.
What happens when metals react with acid?
They form a salt and hydrogen gas.
Which metals react the fastest with acid?
Group 1 metals react the fastest.
What is the reactivity series?
A ranking of metals based on their reactivity with water, oxygen, and acids.
Which group of elements are the most reactive?
Group 1 metals are at the top, while transition metals are at the bottom.
What is an ore?
A rock that contains enough metal to be mined profitably.
Are metals in ores pure?
No, they are compounds with other elements and must be extracted.
What are the main steps in metal production?
- Mining → Extracting ores from the earth.
- Ore processing → Breaking down rocks.
- Metal extraction → Chemically separating the metal.
How does metal production affect the environment? (4)
- Clears land, leading to erosion.
- Damages ecosystems & reduces biodiversity.
- Produces large waste dumps.
- Burns fossil fuels → Increases CO₂ emissions.
What is a linear economy?
Take → Make → Waste (metals are discarded after use).
What is a circular economy?
Reduce → Reuse → Recycle (metals are reused or recycled).
Why is metal recycling important?
- Uses less energy than extracting new metals.
- Produces fewer CO₂ emissions.
- Metals can be melted and reshaped easily.
