metals Flashcards
(15 cards)
List the common properties of metals.
- Shiny
- High melting and boiling points
- Malleable
- Good conductors of heat and electricity
- Ductile
What are the subcategories of metals on the Periodic Table?
- Alkali metals (Group 1)
- Alkaline earth metals (Group 2)
- Transition metals (Groups 3–12)
- Post-transition metals
- Lanthanides
- Actinides
Describe the reactivity of alkali metals.
Highly reactive with air and water; reactivity increases down the group
Alkali metals can be cut with a knife and are dull on the outside but shiny on the inside due to an oxide layer.
What is a notable characteristic of alkaline earth metals?
Highly reactive (less so than Group 1)
They are shiny and silvery white with low melting and boiling points.
What are the properties of transition metals?
- Silver coloured (mostly)
- Harder than other metals
- Higher densities
- Higher melting points
What is the significance of transition metals?
- Important for Australian industry (mining)
- Required in trace amounts for life in all organisms
What is metallic bonding?
Atoms exist in large lattices joined by metallic bonds
Single atoms of metals do not exist in isolation.
What happens to valence electrons in metallic bonding?
They become delocalised and can move/flow within the lattice
What role do delocalised electrons play in metallic bonding?
They create a ‘sea’ of electrons around fixed metal ions
How does metallic bonding explain the shininess of metals?
Delocalised electrons reflect light
Why do metals have high melting and boiling points?
Metallic bonds are very strong, requiring a lot of energy to break
What property of metals allows them to be malleable?
The lattice can move along while delocalised electrons hold ions together
Why are metals good conductors of heat and electricity?
Delocalised electrons have a charge and can move
What is an alloy?
A mixture of metals or a metal with another substance, usually carbon
What is the process of creating alloys?
The substances are melted together and mixed
