PRELIMINARY CHEMISTRY (2UNIT)

The Chemical Earth Although most elements are found in combinations on Earth, some elements are
found uncombined

Explain the relationship between the reactivity of an element and the likelihood of its
existing as an uncombined element
Chemical reactivity of elements
o

Unreactive elements can exist as free elements in nature

Noble gases full outer shell, cannot participate in chemical reactions
Noble/native metals gold is an unreactive metal

Reactive elements combine with other substances in the environment to form

compounds
Reactive metals caesium, potassium, calcium readily combine with oxygen
or water to form compounds

Classify elements as metals, non-metals and semi-metals according to their physical

properties
Physical properties
o

Melting point the lowest temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid at normal
atmospheric pressure (100 kPa)

Boiling point the lowest temperature at which a liquid changes to a vapour such that
the vapour exerts a pressure of 100kPa

Density the mass of a substance per unit volume

Electrical conductivity the quantity of electric current transmitted through a unit of

cube of the materials when there is a potential difference of 1V across the cube

Thermal conductivity the rate at which heat energy is transferred through the unit
cube of the material when there is a 1 temperature difference across the tube

Physical Properties Metals

Melting points and High [metals except
Boiling points mercury are solids at
room temp]
Density High
Electrical conductivity High
Thermal conductivity High
Malleability High
Lustre Lustrous [shiny]
surface

Semi-metals
Very high

Non-metals
Low [gases at room
temp]

Intermediate
Low [semiconductors]
High
Moderate
Low sheen

Low
Nil [insulators]
Low [insulators]
Nil [brittle]
Dull

PRELIMINARY CHEMISTRY (2UNIT)

The Chemical Earth Although most elements are found in combinations on Earth, some elements are
found uncombined

NON-METALS

SEMI-METALS

METALS

Account for the uses of metals, non-metals and semi-metals according to their physical
properties
ELEMENT
Copper

USE
Electrical wiring

PROPERTY RELATED TO USE

Ductility
High electrical conductivity
Lustrous
Highly unreactive
High reactivity allows it to
preferentially corrode and protect
the iron
High melting point
Ductile

Gold

Ornaments, jewellery

Zinc

Galvanising of iron

Aluminium

Foil in ovens
Electrical wiring

Silicon
Germanium

Transistors and integrated

circuits, microchips

High melting points

Ductile
High electrical conductivity

Liquid Nitrogen

Cooling agent

Low melting and boiling points

Helium

Fill up balloons and blimps

Carbon

Diamond

Low density
Exist in gaseous form
Unreactive [non-flammable gas]
High tensile strength [hard]
Scatter light effectively [highrefractive index]