Question

What are the chemical properties of metals and non-metals?

Answer 1

Metals and Non-metals:

• Metals are the elements that form a positive ion by losing electrons while non-metals are the elements that form a negative ion by gaining electrons.

Chemical properties of metals:

1. Reaction with acid:

• When a metal reacts with an acid, hydrogen gas is liberated.
• Example: $\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{ZnCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\uparrow$

2. Reaction with water:

• Only the metals with higher reactivity react with water.
• Example: Sodium metal reacts with water and oxygen, producing a large amount of heat.

3. Reaction with base:

• Some metals react with a base and lead to the production of a metallic salt and liberation of hydrogen gas.
• Example: $\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{ZnO}}_2\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\uparrow$

4. Reaction with oxygen:

• When a metal burns in the presence of oxygen, a metallic oxide is produced.
• These oxides are basic in nature.

Chemical properties of Non-metals:

1. Reaction with acid:

• Non-metals do not react with acid.

2. Reaction with water:

• A non-metal does not react with water, but it is usually reactive in air.

3. Reaction with base:

• The reaction between a non-metal and a base is very complex in nature.
• Example: The reaction of chlorine with sodium hydroxide produces sodium chloride, sodium hypochlorite, and water.
• $2\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to \mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{NaClO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$

4. Reaction with oxygen:

• When a non-metal reacts with oxygen, oxides of non-metals are formed.
• These oxides are acidic in nature.