Let’s check reactions of metals with

 

  • Reaction of metals with Oxygen
  • Reaction of metals/non metals with Water
  • Reaction of metals/non metals with Dilute Acids
  • Reaction of metals/non metals with Salt Solutions
  • Reaction of metals/non metals with Chlorine
  • Reaction of metals/non metals with Hydrogen

 

Reaction of Metals with Oxygen (Air)

Reaction of Metals with Oxygen (Air) - Teachoo.png

When a metal burns in air, it forms a metal oxide .

Thus, 

           Metal + Oxygen → Metal Oxide

examples:

Copper is heated in air, it combines with oxygen to form copper(II) oxide , a black oxide.

2Cu + O 2 → 2 CuO  

               (Copper)            (Copper(II) oxide)

Similarly, aluminium forms aluminium oxide

4Al + 3O 2 → 2 Al 2 O 3  

           (Aluminium)          (Aluminium oxide)



  • Metal oxides are basic in nature. 
  • Metal oxides turn red litmus blue .
  • Some metal oxides can be neutral.

Metal Oxides - Teachoo.png




Reactions of some metals are given below:

 

SODIUM AND POTASSIUM (Alkali Metals)

  • Sodium and Potassium react vigorously with oxygen at room temperature to form basic oxides called Sodium oxide and Potassium oxides respectively. 


Reaction of Alkali metals with Oxygen - Teachoo.png



MAGNESIUM 

  • On heating, magnesium metal burns in air giving an intense heat and light to give a basic oxide, magnesium oxide.
  • Magnesium oxide is partially soluble in water, and forms Magnesium Hydroxide.

Reaction of Magnesium with Oxygen - Teachoo.png

 

Reaction of Magnesium oxide with water - Teachoo.png

 

 

ALUMINIUM  

  • On strong heating in air, aluminium forms a metal oxide called aluminium oxide.
  • Metal oxides of Aluminium show both acidic and basic behaviour and react with both acids and bases to form salt and water, thus, they are called amphoteric oxides .

Reactions are as follows :

Reaction of Aluminium with Oxygen - Teachoo.png

Amphoteric oxides react with both acids and bases to form salt and water :

With acids, Aluminium oxide behaves like a basic oxide.

With bases, Aluminium oxide behaves like an acidic oxide.

 

ZINC  

  • Zinc metal burns in air only on strong heating.
  • Zinc oxide also behaves as an amphoteric oxide, thus reacts with both acids and bases to give corresponding salts and water.  

 

Reactions of Zinc with oxygen to give Zinc oxide :

Reaction of Zinc with Oxygen - Teachoo.png

IRON 

  • Iron forms iron (II and III) oxides on heating.
  • This metal rusts easily on exposure to moisture, hence it must undergo certain processes to avoid rusting.

Reaction of Formation of Iron Oxide is as follows :

Formation of Iron Oxide - Teachoo.png

COPPER 

  • On prolonged heating in the presence of air, copper metal forms a black oxide called Copper (II) oxide (CuO), which is completely oxidised unlike Cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O 3 )

Reaction is as follows :


Reaction of Copper with air - Teachoo.png

Reactions of Metals with Water

Metals react with either Hot or Cold Water to form a metal hydroxide and Hydrogen gas.

Metals react with Steam to give metal oxide and hydrogen gas.  


Reaction of Metal with Water - Teachoo.png

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Reaction of Sodium and Potassium with COLD WATER.

  • It is a highly exothermic reaction , a high amount of energy is released. 
  • Hydrogen gas formed during the process catches fire immediately. 
  • Sodium an Potassium are very reactive metals .

Reaction of Sodium and Potassium with Water - Teachoo.png
Sodium Metal in water - Teachoo.png


Calcium - COLD WATER.

  • Calcium metal reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide .
  • Bubbles of hydrogen released stick to the surface of calcium metal, making it float.
  • The reaction is exothermic, but Hydrogen does not burn /explode.

Reaction of Calcium with Water - Teachoo.png

Magnesium - HOT WATER.

  • Magnesium metal reacts with hot water to form Magnesium hydroxide .
  • Bubbles stick to the surface of the metal, making it float around in water. 

Reaction of Magnesium with Water and Steam - Teachoo.png

  • This reaction is faster than the one with hot water, since this occurs at a higher temperature.



Aluminium - STEAM.

  • Reacts with steam to form aluminium oxide and hydrogen. 
  • Under ordinary conditions, no reaction takes place as there is a thin but tough layer of oxide on the surface of aluminium metal.

Reaction of Aluminium with Steam - Teachoo.png

Zinc - STEAM.

  • Zinc reacts with steam to give zinc oxide and hydrogen.
  • Zinc is less reactive than aluminium.


Reaction of Zinc with Steam - Teachoo.png


 Iron - STEAM.

  • Iron reacts with steam to give iron (II & III) oxide.
  • Iron is less reactive than Zinc.

Reaction of Iron with Steam - Teachoo (2).png

Metals like Copper, Gold, Silver, Platinum do not react with water.



Reaction of Metals with Dilute Acids

 

Metals reacting with acids liberate hydrogen from dilute acids , to form salts.

Reaction of Metal with Acids - Teachoo.png

Reactions of Metals with Dil. HCl

Metals react with dil. HCl to give metal salt+Hydrogen.

Reaction of Metal with Acid - Teachoo.png

  • Sodium and Potassium - React violently with HCl to form Sodium and Potassium chloride with hydrogen gas.

Reaction of Alkali metals with Hydrochloric Acid - Teachoo.png

  • Magnesium and Calcium- React rapidly with Dil. HCl, giving Magnesium Chloride and Calcium Chloride with Hydrogen gas.

Reactions of Magnesium and Calcium with Hydrochloric Acid - Teachoo.png

  • Aluminium - Initially reacts slowly due to the presence of an oxide layer on its surface.
  • However the acid slowly wears off the oxide layer exposing fresh metal which reacts to form Aluminium chloride and hydrogen gas.

Reaction of Aluminium with Hydrochloric Acid - Teachoo.png

  • Zinc - Reacts to form zinc chloride and hydrogen gas.
  • Less rapid reaction as compared to aluminium.

Reaction of Zinc with Hydrochloric Acid - Teachoo.png

  • Iron - Reacts to form Iron (II) Chloride (FeCl 2 ) and H 2
  • Reaction is less rapid than that of Zinc.

Reaction of Iron with Hydrochloric Acid - Teachoo.png


Copper, gold, silver, platinum do not react with Dil. HCl .

Aluminium Metal in Dilute HCl - Teachoo.png


Magnesium Metal in Dilute HCl - Teachoo.png

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Reactions with Dil. Sulphuric acids :

Metals react with dilute sulphuric acid to give metal sulphates and hydrogen

The reactions for these metals are given below.

 

Metal+Acid -> Metal Sulphate + Hydrogen gas

Reactions with Dil. Sulphuric acid - Teachoo.png


Similarly, other salts such as Zinc, Iron, Aluminium and Magnesium react with Dil. H 2 SO 4 to give their metal sulphates and hydrogen gas.

Reaction of metals with dil. H2SO4 - Teachoo.png

Metals like Gold, Copper, Silver and Platinum do not react with Dil. H 2 SO 4

Reactions with Dil. Nitric Acid :

1. Magnesium - Reacts with very dilute nitric acid to give Magnesium nitrate and hydrogen .

  • Very dilute nitric acid is a weak oxidising agent , thus it cannot oxidise hydrogen to water. 

Reaction of Magnesium with Dil. HNO3 - Teachoo.png

Aluminium and Zinc form similar salts with HNO 3 .

Reaction of Metals with Dil. HNO3 - Teachoo.png

2. Manganese - Reacts with very dilute acid to give manganese nitrate and hydrogen .

  • Less reactive than Magnesium.

Reaction  of Manganese with dil. HNO3 - Teachoo.png

 Metals like Copper, Gold, Silver, Mercury and Platinum, do not react with dil HNO3 under normal circumstances.
Reaction of Copper, Silver and Mercury with Nitric Acid - Teachoo.png

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Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 14 years and a teacher from the past 18 years. He teaches Science, Economics, Accounting and English at Teachoo