Knowledge Point Classes

Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246

Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

METALS AND NON-METALS

About 118 elements are known today. There are more than 90 metals, 22 non metals and a
few metalloids.
Sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium(Mg), aluminium(Al), calcium(Ca), Iron(Fe),
Barium(Ba) are some metals.
Oxygen(O), hydrogen(H), nitrogen(N), sulphur(S), phosphorus(P), fluorine(F), chlorine(Cl),
bromine(Br), iodine(l) are some non-metals.
Metals: 
Metals are the elements which form positive ions by losing electrons. Thus, metals are known as
Electropositive Elements.

Physical Properties of Metals

 Hardness: Most of the metals are hard, except alkali metals, such as sodium, potassium,
lithium, etc. are very soft metals. These can be cut by using a knife.
 Strength: Most of the metals are strong and have high tensile strength. Because of this, big
structures are made using metals, such as copper (Cu) and iron (Fe). (Except Sodium (Na)
and potassium (K) which are soft metals).
 State: Metals are solid at room temperature except for mercury (Hg).
 Sound: Metals produce ringing sound, so, metals are called Sonorous. Sound of metals is
also known as Metallic sound. This is the cause that metal wires are used in making musical
instruments.
 Conduction: Metals are a good conductor of heat and electricity. This is the cause that
electric wires are made of metals like copper and aluminium.
 Malleability: Metals are malleable. This means metals can be beaten into a thin sheet.
Because of this property, iron is used in making big ships.
 Ductility: Metals are ductile. This means metals can be drawn into thin wire. Because of this
property, a wire is made of metals.
 Melting and Boiling Point: Metals have generally high melting and boiling points. (Except
sodium and potassium metals which have low melting and boiling point.)
 Density: Most of the metals have a high density.
 Colour: Most of the metals are grey in colour. But gold and copper are exceptions.

Chemical Properties of Metals :

1. Reaction with oxygen: Most of the metals form respective metal oxides when reacting with
oxygen.
Metal + Oxygen → Metal Oxide
Examples:
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

Reaction of Potassium with Oxygen: Potassium metal forms potassium oxide when reacts with
oxygen.

Reaction of Sodium with Oxygen: Sodium metal forms sodium oxide when reacts with oxygen.

Lithium, potassium, sodium, etc. are known as Alkali-metals. Alkali metals react vigorously with
oxygen.

Reaction of Copper metal with Oxygen: Copper does not react with oxygen at room
temperature but when burnt in air, it gives oxide.

Silver, gold and platinum do not combine with the oxygen of air even at high
temperature. They are the least reactive.
2. Reaction of metals with water: Metals form respective hydroxide and hydrogen gas when
reacting with water.
Metal + Water → Metal hydroxide + Hydrogen
Most of the metals do not react with water. However, alkali metals react vigorously with water.

Reaction of Sodium metal with Water: Sodium metal forms sodium hydroxide and liberates
hydrogen gas along with lot of heat when reacting with water.

Reaction of Calcium metal with Water: Calcium forms calcium hydroxide along with hydrogen
gas and heat when react with water.

Reaction of Magnesium metal with Water: Magnesium metal reacts with water slowly and forms
magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

When steam is passed over magnesium metal, magnesium oxide and hydrogen gas are formed.

Reaction of Aluminium metal with Water: Reaction of aluminium metal with cold water is too
slow to come into notice. But when steam is passed over aluminium metal, aluminium oxide and
hydrogen gas are produced.
2Al + 3H2O → Al2O3 + 2H2

Reaction of Zinc metal with Water: Zinc metal produces zinc oxide and hydrogen gas when
steam is passed over it. Zinc does not react with cold water.

Reaction of Iron with Water: Reaction of iron with cold water is very slow and comes into notice
after a long time. Iron forms rust (iron oxide) when reacts with moisture present in the atmosphere.
Iron oxide and hydrogen gas are formed by passing of steam over iron metal.

Both calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are heavier than water but still float over it: Both
calcium and magnesium float over water surface because hydrogen gas is evolved when these
metals react with water. It is in the form of bubbles which stick on the metal surface. Therefore,
they float over it.

Other metals usually do not react with water or react very slowly. Lead, copper, silver and gold do
not react with steam. Thus, the order of reactivity of different metals towards water may be written
as :
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Ae > Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu > Ag > Au

3. Reaction of metals with dilute acid: Metals form respective salts when reacting with dilute
acid.
Metal + dil. acid → Metal salt + Hydrogen

Reaction of Sodium metal with dilute hydrochloric acid: Sodium metal gives sodium chloride
and hydrogen gas when react with dilute hydrochloric acid.
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

Reaction of Magnesium metal with dilute hydrochloric acid: Magnesium chloride and

hydrogen gas are formed when magnesium reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid.

Reaction of Zinc with dilute sulphuric acid: Zinc sulphate and hydrogen gas are formed when
zinc reacts with dilute sulphuric acid. This method is used in the laboratory to produce hydrogen
gas.

Hydrogen (H2) gas is not evolved when metal is treated with nitric acid (HNO 3):
Nitric acid is strong oxidising agent and it oxidises the hydrogen gas (H2) liberated into water (H2O)
and itself get reduced to some oxide of nitrogen like nitrous oxide (N2O)3 nitric oxide (NO) and
nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
Copper, gold, silver are known as noble metals. These do not react with water or dilute acids.
The order of reactivity of metal towards dilute hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid is in the order;
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Cu > Hg > Ag

Metal Oxides
Chemical Properties: Metal oxides are basic in nature. The aqueous solution of metal oxides
turns red litmus blue.
Reaction of Metal oxides with Water: Most of the metal oxides are insoluble in water. Alkali
metal oxides are soluble in water. Alkali metal oxides give strong base when dissolved in water.

Reaction of Sodium oxide with Water: Sodium oxide gives sodium hydroxide when reacts with
water.

Reaction of Potassium oxide with Water: Potassium oxide gives potassium hydroxide when
reacts with water.

Reaction of Zinc oxide and Aluminium oxide: Aluminium oxide and zinc oxide are insoluble in
water. Aluminium oxide and zinc oxide are amphoteric in nature. An amphoteric substance shows
both acidic and basic characters. It reacts with base like acid and reacts with an acid like a base.
When zinc oxide reacts with sodium hydroxide, it behaves like an acid. In this reaction, sodium
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

zincate and water are formed.

Zinc oxide behaves like a base when reacts with acid. Zinc oxide gives zinc chloride and water on
reaction with hydrochloric acid.

In a similar way, aluminium oxide behaves like a base when reacts with acid and behaves like acid
when reacts with a base.
Aluminium oxide gives sodium aluminate along with water when reacts with sodium hydroxide.

Aluminium oxide gives aluminium chloride along with water when it reacts with hydrochloric acid.

Reactivity Series of Metals: The order of intensity or reactivity of metal is known as

Reactivity Series. Reactivity of elements decreases on moving from top to bottom in
the given reactivity series.
In the reactivity series, copper, gold, and silver are at the bottom and hence, least
reactive. These metals are known as Noble metals. Potassium is at the top of the
series and hence, most reactive.
Reactivity of some metals are given in descending order :
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu

4. Reaction of metals with solution of other metal salts: Reaction of metals with the
solution of other metal salt is displacement reaction. In this reaction, more reactive
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

metal displaces the less reactive metal from its salt.

Metal A + Salt of metal B → Salt of metal A + Metal B
Examples :
Iron displaces copper from copper sulphate solution.

Similarly, aluminium and zinc displace copper from the solution of copper sulphate.

In all the above examples, iron, aluminium and zinc are more reactive than copper.
This is why they displace copper from its salt solution.
When copper is dipped in the solution of silver nitrate, it displaces silver and forms
copper nitrate.

In the reaction, copper is more reactive than silver and hence, displaces silver from
silver nitrate solution.
Silver metal does not react with copper sulphate solution because silver is less
reactive than copper and not able to displace copper from its salt solution.

Similarly, when gold is dipped in the solution of copper nitrate, no reaction takes
place because copper is more reactive than gold.

In similar way, no reaction takes place when copper is dipped in the solution of
aluminium nitrate because copper is less reactive than aluminium.

5. Reaction with chlorine:

Metal + chlorine — metal chrolide
Na + Cl2 —NaCl
Non-Metals: Physical Properties of non-metals, chemical properties of non-metals, non¬metal
oxides, Reaction of metal and Non-metal, Ionic bonds and formation of an ionic bond. Non-metals
are the elements that do not conduct electricity and are neither malleable nor ductile.
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

Examples: Carbon (C), Sulphur (S), Phosphorous (P), Silicon (Si), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O),
Nitrogen (N), Chlorine (Cl), Bromine (Br), Neon (Ne) and Argon (Ar) etc.
Non-metals are the elements which form negative ions by gaining an electron. Thus, non¬metals
are also known as Electronegative Elements.

Physical properties of non-metals

 Hardness: Non-metals are not hard rather they are generally soft. But the diamond is an
exception; it is the hardest naturally occurring substance.
 State: Non-metals may be solid, liquid or gas.
 Lustre: Non-metals have a dull appearance. Diamond and iodine are exceptions.
 Sonority: Non-metals are not sonorous, i.e., they do not produce a typical sound on being
hit.
 Conduction: Non-metals are a bad conductor of heat and electricity. Graphite which is
allotrope of carbon is a good conductor of electricity and is an exception.
 Malleability and ductility: Non-metals are brittle.
 Melting and boiling point: Non-metals have generally low melting and boiling points.
 Density: Most of the non-metals have low density.
 Colour: Non-metals are in many colours.

Carbon in the form of graphite is non-metal which conduct electricity.

Iodine is non-metal which is lustrous having a shining surface.

Carbon in the form of diamond is a non-metal which is extremely hard.

Diamond is a non-metal which has a very high melting point and boiling point.

Chemical properties of Non-metals

1. Reaction of Non-metals with Oxygen: Non-metals form respective oxide when reacting with
oxygen.
Non-metal + Oxygen → Non-metallic oxide
When carbon reacts with oxygen, carbon dioxide is formed along with the production of heat.

When carbon is burnt in an insufficient supply of air, it forms carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide
is a toxic substance. Inhaling of carbon monoxide may prove fatal.

Sulphur gives sulphur dioxide when reacting with oxygen. Sulphur catches fire when exposed to
air.
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

When hydrogen reacts with oxygen it gives water.

Non-metallic Oxide: Non-metallic oxides are acidic in nature. The solution of non-metal oxides
turns blue litmus red.
Carbon dioxide gives carbonic acid when dissolved in water.

Sulphur dioxide gives sulphurous acid when dissolved in water.

Sulphur dioxide gives sulphuric acid when reacts with oxygen.

2. Reaction of Non-metal with Chlorine: Non-metal gives respective chloride when they react
with chlorine gas.
Non-metal + Chlorine → Non-metal chloride
Hydrogen gives hydrogen chloride and phosphorous gives phosphorous trichloride when reacting
with chlorine.

3. Reaction of Non-metals with Hydrogen: Non-metals reactive with hydrogen to form covalent

hydrides.
Non-metal + Hydrogen → Covalent Hydride
Sulphur combines with hydrogen to form a covalent hydride is called Hydrogen sulphide.

Nitrogen combines with hydrogen in presence of an iron catalyst to form covalent hydride
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

ammonia.

Non-metals do not react with water (or steam) to evolve Hydrogen gas.

Non-metals do not react with dilute acids.

4. Reaction of Metal and Non-metal: Many metals form ionic bonds when they react with non-
metals. Compounds so formed are known as Ionic Compounds.
Ions: Positive or negative charged atoms are known as ions. Ions are formed because of loss or
gain of electrons. Atoms form ions obtain by the electronic configuration of the nearest noble gas.
Positive ion: A positive ion is formed because of the loss of electrons by an atom.

Following are some examples of positive ions:

Sodium forms sodium ion because of the loss of one electron. Because of the loss of one electron,
one positive charge comes over sodium.

Magnesium forms positive ion because of the loss of two electrons. Two positive charges come
over magnesium because of loss of two electrons.

Negative ion: A negative ion is formed because of the gain of an electron.

Some examples are given below :
Chlorine gains one electron in order to achieve a stable configuration. After the loss of one
electron, chlorine gets one negative charge over it forming chlorine ion.

Ionic Bonds: Ionic bonds are formed because of transfer of electrons from metal to non¬metal. In
this course, metals get positive charge because of transfer of electrons and non-metal gets
negative charge because of acceptance of electrons. In other words, bond formed between
positive and negative ion is called Ionic Bond.
Since, a compound is electrically neutral, so to form an ionic compound, negative and positive
both ions must be combined.

Some examples are given below:

Formation of Sodium Chloride (NaCl): In sodium chloride, sodium is a metal (alkali metal) and
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

chlorine is a non-metal.
Atomic number of sodium = 11
Electronic configuration of sodium : 2, 8, 1
Number of electrons in outermost orbit = 1
Valence electrons = Electrons in outermost orbit = 1
Atomic number of chlorine = 17
Electronic configuration of chlorine : 2, 8, 7
Electrons in outermost orbit = 7
Therefore, valence electrons = ?

Sodium has one valence electron and chlorine has seven valence electrons. Sodium requires
losing one electron to obtain stable configuration and chlorine requires gaining one electron in
order to obtain stable electronic configuration. Thus, in order to obtain stable configuration, sodium
transfers one electron to chlorine. After loss of one electron, sodium gets one positive charge (+)
and chlorine gets one negative charge after gain of one electron. Sodium chloride is formed
because of transfer of electrons. Thus, ionic bond is formed between sodium and chlorine. Since,
sodium chloride is formed because of ionic bond, thus, it is called Ionic compound. In similar way,
potassium chloride (KCl) is formed.

Properties of Ionic compound

 Ionic compounds are solid. Ionic bond has a greater force of attraction because of which ions
attract each other strongly. This makes ionic compounds solid.
 Ionic compounds are brittle.
 Ionic compounds have high melting and boiling points because force of attraction between
ions of ionic compounds is very strong.
 Ionic compounds generally dissolve in water.
 Ionic compounds are generally insoluble in organic solvents; like kerosene, petrol, etc.
 Ionic compounds do not conduct electricity in the solid state.
 The solution of ionic compounds in water conduct electricity. This happens because ions
present in the solution of ionic compound facilitate the passage of electricity by moving
towards opposite electrodes.
 Ionic compounds conduct electricity in the molten state.

Occurrence and Extraction of Metals: Minerals, ores, extraction of metals of least reactivity,

extraction of metals of middle reactivity, extraction of metals of high reactivity, refining or
purification of metals and corrosion.
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

Occurrence and Extraction of Metals:

Source of metal: Metals occur in Earth’s crust and in seawater; in the form of ores. Earth’s crust
is the major source of metal. Seawater contains many salts such as sodium chloride, magnesium
chloride, etc.

Mineral: Minerals are naturally occurring substances which have a uniform composition.

Ores: The minerals from which a metal can be profitably extracted are called Ores.
Metals found at the bottom of reactivity series are least reactive and they are often found in nature
in free-state; such as gold, silver, copper, etc. Copper and silver are also found in the form of
sulphide and oxide ores.

Metals found in the middle of reactivity series, such as Zn, Fe, Pb, etc. are usually found in the
form of oxides, sulphides or carbonates.
Metals found at the top of the reactivity series are never found in free-state as they are very
reactive, example; K, Na, Ca, Mg and Al, etc.
Many metals are found in the form of oxides because oxygen is abundant in nature and is very
reactive.

Extraction of Metals: Metals can be categorised into three parts on the basis of their reactivity:
Most reactive, medium reactive and least reactive.
The three major steps involved in the extraction of a metal from its ore are

1. Concentration or enrichment of ores.

2. Conversion of concentrated ore into crude metal and,
3. Refining of impure or crude metal.
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

Thermite Reaction: Ferric oxide; when heated with aluminium; is reduced to iron metal. In this reaction, a
lot of heat is produced. The thermite reaction is used in the welding of electric conductors, iron joints, etc.
such as joints in railway tracks. This is also known as Thermite Welding (TW).

Corrosion: Most of the metals keep on reacting with the atmospheric air. This leads to the
formation of a layer over the metal. In the long run, the underlying layer of metal keeps on getting
lost due to conversion into oxides or sulphides or carbonate, etc. As a result, the metal gets eaten
up. The process is called Corrosion.

Rusting of Iron: Rusting of iron is the most common form of corrosion. When iron articles like the
gate, grill, fencing, etc. come in contact with moisture present in the air, the upper layer of iron
turns into iron oxide. Iron oxide is brown-red in colour and is known as Rust. The phenomenon is
called Rusting of Iron.
If rusting is not prevented in time, the whole iron article would turn into iron oxide. This is also
known as Corrosion of Iron. Rusting of iron gives a huge loss every year.
 Knowledge Point Classes
Ram kushvaha 7678309456 , 9971848246
Class – X
Science Note(Metal and Non - Metal)

Prevention of Rusting: For rusting, iron must come in contact with oxygen and water. Rusting is
prevented by preventing the reaction between atmospheric moisture and the iron article. This can
be done by:

 Painting
 Greasing
 Galvanization
 Electroplating
 Alloying

Alloys: The homogeneous mixture of two or more metals, or a metal and a non-metal is called
Alloy.

Properties of an Alloy

 Alloys are stronger than the metal from which they are obtained.
 It is harder than the constituent metals.
 More resistance to corrosion.
 The melting point of alloys is lower than the constituent metals.
Example: Solder [Sn(80%) + Pb(50%)] has lower m. p. than Pb and Sn.
 The electrical conductivity of alloys is lower than the constituent metals.