PRESENTED BY:

Mr. BALJINDER SINGH

SCIENCE MASTER
GOVT. GIRLS SEN. SEC. SCHOOL,
HARGOBINDPUR (LDH.)
 PROPERTIES OF METALS
At present about 115 elements are known which have
numerous properties and form millions of compounds. All the
elements are mainly divided into three groups.
Metals
Non metals
Metalloids

This division was firstly done according to their physical

appearance. Some elements have shining surface others
don’t have. Some examples of metals are iron, potassium,
aluminium, gold, copper, tin, lead etc.
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

1. Physical state:
Most metals are solid at room temperature but some
exceptions are there. For example mercury (Hg) is liquid at
room temperature. Examples of solid metal are gold (Au),
potassium(K), iron (Fe) etc.
2. Melting point and boiling point:
Melting and boiling points of metals depend upon the
strength of bonds present in the molecules of metals. Metals
with week bonds have low melting and boiling points where
as metals having strong bonds have high melting and boiling
points.
3. Lustre:
Metals have lustrous surface. This is due to the presence
of free electrons in the atoms of metals. These free electrons
absorb energy and jump to the higher orbits. When these
return, electrons radiates energy and this gives metals lustre.
4. Ductility and malleability:
Metals are ductile i.e. these can be hammered into thin
sheets. Gold is the most ductile metal. Metals are also
malleable i.e. these can be drawn into thin wires for example
copper is used to make electrical wires.
5. Conductance:
Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity. This is
due to the presence of free electrons in the outer most
shell of atoms. Silver is the best conductor of electricity.
6. Hardness:
Most metals are hard but sodium (Na) and potassium (K)
are soft and these can be cut with a knife.
7.Density:
Generally most metals are having high density due to
strong bonding between the atoms of the metals.
 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. High reactivity:
Metals are highly reactive due to less ionization energy
and bigger size of atoms. The most reactive metal is
francium (Fr).
2. Reaction with oxygen:
Metals react with oxygen to form basic oxides which
convert red litmus to blue litmus for example
4Na + O2 2Na2O
Sodium oxygen sodium oxide

When these oxides are mixed with water these form

bases.
Na2O + H2O 2NaOH
Sodium Oxide water sodium hydroxide

3. Electropositive nature:
Metals are electropositive in nature because these form
positively charged ions by losing valence electrons.
Na Na+ + e-
Mg Mg2+ + 2e-
4. Reaction with Hydrogen:
Some metals react with Hydrogen to form metal hydrides.
Example:-
2 Na + H2 2NaH
5. Reaction with acids:
Metals react with acids to produce hydrogen gas.
Example:-
Zn + 2HCl ZnCl2 + H2
Mg + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2
BIBLIOGRAPHY

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