Metals
Most of the elements are metals, which are found in yellow-tinted squares to the left of the zigzag
line in the periodic table. Chemists classify an element as a metal based on physical properties. The
physical properties of metals include shininess, malleability, ductility, and conductivity. A malleable
material can be hammered or rolled into flat sheets and other shapes. A ductile material can be
pulled out, or drawn, into a long wire. Conductivity is the ability of an object to transfer heat or
electricity to another object. Many metals are good conductors. Several metals are also magnetic.
They are attracted to magnets and can be made into magnets. Most metals are solids at room
temperature. Many have luster and are silver-colored.
The ease and speed with which an element combines with other elements and compounds is
called its reactivity. Metals usually react by losing electrons to other atoms. Oxidation is the
interaction between oxygen molecules and all the different substances. Some metals react with oxygen
in the air causing it to deteriorate. They form metals oxides, or rust. This process is called corrosion.
The metals in a group, or family, have similar properties. Family properties change gradually as
you move across the table. The reactivity of metals tends to decrease as you move from left to right
across the periodic table.
The metals in Group 1 are the alkali metals. They are so reactive they are never found
uncombined in nature. They readily combine or react with other elements by losing one electron.
Many are shiny, silver-colored, have a low density and soft. Sodium and potassium are the most
important alkali metals as they are form many compounds that are used in industry, medicine and
especially in our bodies.
Group 2 of the periodic table contains the alkaline earth metals. While not as reactive as the
alkali metals, they are also so reactive that they cannot be found uncombined in nature. They are
good conductors. Magnesium combines with many metals to form strong alloys. Calcium is used in
many things included cement and in our bodies.
The elements in Groups 3 through 12 are called transition metals. They form a bridge between
the very reactive metals on the left and the less reactive metals and other elements on the right. Not
all metals are silver colored which can be proven by element 79 which is gold.
Groups 13 through 15 of the periodic table include metals, nonmetals, and metalloids. The
metals in these groups are not nearly as reactive as those on the left side of the table.
The elements placed below the periodic table are called the lanthanides and actinides.
Lanthanides were once thought to be rare and not easily mined; hence they were named rare earth
elements. They are mixed with more common metals to make alloys. An alloy is a mixture of
metals. Many of the actinides are synthetic ( man-made) elements Only thorium and uranium occur
naturally. Elements above uranium are made-or synthesized-when nuclear particles are forced to
crash into one another. Some synthetic elements are made in nuclear reactors. In general, the
difficulty of synthesizing new elements increases with atomic number. Powerful machines called
particle accelerators make synthetic elements with atomic numbers above 95. The first
synthesized new element was curium.
Name_________________________
Metals
1. Chemists classify an element as a metal, based on its physical and chemical _______________________.
2. Circle the letter of the property that is NOT a physical property of metals.
a. shininess
b. malleability
c. brittleness
d. conductivity
Match the term with its definition.
Term
______3. malleable
______4. ductile
______5. conductivity
______6. reactivity
a. the ease with which an element combines with other
elements and compounds
b. the ability of an object to transfer heat or electricity to
another object
c. A term used to describe a material that can be pulled out , or
drawn, into a long wire
d. A term used to describe a material that can be hammered or
rolled into flat sheets and other shapes.
7.Some metals are ___________________ ; they are attracted to magnets or can be made into magnets.
8.True or false? Most metals are solids at room temperature.
9.The slow destruction of a metal through its reaction with oxygen in the air is called _________________.
10.How does the reactivity of each group of metals change as you move across the table from left to right?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
11. Circle the letter of each sentence that is true about alkali metals.
a. They are never found as uncombined elements.
b. They react with other elements by losing one electron.
c. They are often found as pure elements in sea water.
d. They are slightly reactive.
12. What are the two most important alkali metals? _________________________________________
13.Circle the letter of each sentence that is true about alkaline earth metals.
a. Each is a good conductor of electricity.
b. They are never found uncombined in nature.
c. They lose two electrons in chemical reactions.
d. They are much less reactive than most metals.
14. What are the two most common alkaline earth metals? ______________________________________
15.Circle the letter of each element that is a transition metal.
a. gold
b. iron
c. copper
d. lithium
16. True or False? The transition metals are less reactive than the metals in Groups 1 and 2.
17. True or False? All of the elements in Groups 13 through 15 are metals.
18. Lanthanides are often mixed with more common metals to make_________________.
19. Which two actinides occur naturally on Earth? __________________________________
.
Name
20. Complete the concept map about metals.
Metals
21. Uranium has an atomic number of 92. How were all the elements with atomic numbers higher
than 92 created? ______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
22. What was the first synthetic element to be made by colliding nuclei in a particle accelerator? _____________
23. True or False? It is easier to synthesize new elements with very large atomic numbers.
Review
1. What element is most common on the periodic table? ______________________
2. Sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) are in different families of metals. Name the families
metals in which they belong. ____________________________________________
of
3. In what periods are the lanthanides and actinides? ___________________________________
Fill in the blank with the correct word.
conductivity
alloy
malleable
ductile
corrosion
particle accelerator
reactivity
4. The reaction of a metal with oxygen to form rust is called _______________________.
5. A material that is _____________________ can be hammered into sheets and other shapes.
6. A powerful machine called a(n) _____________________________moves nuclear particles fast enough to
make larger nuclei when the particles collide.
7. The ability to transmit heat or electricity to other objects is called _____________________________
8. A material that is____________________
can be drawn into a wire.
9. ______________________is the ease and speed with which an element combines with other elements
and compounds.
10. A(n) __________is a mixture of a metal and at least one other element .