Metals

What are some metals and their uses

• Al : Airplanes, cooking, cans• Fe : Cars, buses• Cu : Wires to carry electricity• Zn : Pennies

Properties of Metal

• How would you describe a Metal?– Smooth?– Shiny?– Hard?

• Remember scientist describe matter based on it properties– Physical– Chemical

Physical Properties

• Malleability• Ductility• Conductivity

Malleability

• Malleable: material that can be hammered or rolled into flat sheets and other shaps

Ductility

• Ductile: material can be pulled out or drawn into a wire

Conductivity

• Conductivity: the ability of an object to transfer heat or electricity to another object

Other useful Physical Properties

• Some metals are magnetic (attracted to magnets or can be turning into a magnet)– Fe– Ni– Co

• Most metals are solids at room temperature– Hg is the exception

Chemical Properties

• Reactivity is the ease and speed with which an element combines, or reacts, with other elements and compounds– Na reacts strongly with air and water so store it in

oil– Au and Pt are valued because they do not react

easily with other elements or compounds– Fe is in the middle with a slow reaction to air to

form iron oxide, unless protected (corrosion)

Alkali Metals

• First Family• React by losing 1 electron• Always found in nature combined with

another element• Na and K are essential to your diet• Li is in batteries and medications

Alkaline Earth Metals

• Second Family• React by losing 2 electrons• Also only found in nature as a compound• Ca is essential for you• Mg alloys are light weight and strong

Transition Metals

• 3-12 families• Not as reactive as the previous groups, so

some can be found un-bonded• Fe is essential for Hemoglobin• Au and Ag are used in jewelry• Cu in pipes and wires

Metals in Mixed Groups

• Some elements in groups 13-15 are metals• Al is in cans and airplane bodies• Sn is used to coat steal and iron so it does not

rust• Pb is poisonous, was used in paints and pipes

Lanthanides

• Bottom of table top row• Rare earth metals• Mostly used in alloys to improve other metals• Nd makes extremely strong magnets found in

hard drives

Actinides

• Ac, Th, Pa and U are found in nature, others are made in labs

• Very heavy and unstable nuclei• Go through decay fast