West Lothian Council
Lorna C. Webster
1
Properties of metals
Read
The properties of a substance are what it is like and what it
can do. Metals are substances that have many uses and this is
because they have many useful properties.
Your teacher may show you a video about metals (SS11).
.
Write a heading and do the work below.
1. Think of a room in your house and write down a list of as
many objects as you can that are made of metal.
2. Collect the information sheet about “properties of metals”
and answer the questions below.
a) Which metal is used to build bridges and why?
b) If a metal has good electrical conduction, what does this
mean?
c) If a metal has good thermal conduction, what does this
mean?
d) What property does copper have that makes it good for
making electrical wires?
e) What property does copper have that makes it good for
making cooking pots?
f) What property does copper have that makes it good for
making water pipes?
g) Why is aluminium a good metal to use to build an aeroplane?
h) What does malleable mean?
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i)
j)
k)
List the names of some metals that are used to make
jewellery.
What do you think corrode means?
Why is tin is used to make food cans?
Ask your teacher if you should do the PPA called “electrical
conductivity”. When you have completed the experiment and
the assessment sheet ask your teacher to check it.
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Changing the properties of metals
Read
Pure metals do not always have the properties that we need for
a particular job. An alloy is a substance made by melting and
mixing metals together. Alloys are often more useful than pure
metals because they have different properties from the pure
metals. This can make them more suitable for certain uses.
Your teacher might show you some demonstrations with alloys
(2.8).
Write a heading and do the work below.
1. What is an alloy?
2. Why are alloys often more useful than pure metals.
3. Collect the information sheet about alloys and try the work
below.
a) What is the difference between pure gold and 18 carat
gold?
b) Why does this difference make the 18 carat gold more
useful for jewellery making?
c) What is steel made from?
d) Why is steel used more often for making railway tracks
than pure iron?
e) Why did people in the bronze age use bronze instead of
pure copper to make swords and tools?
f) Describe how you would make solder from tin and lead.
g) Duralmin is an alloy made from copper and what other
metal?
h) Why is duralmin used to make aeroplanes?
4. Copy and complete the table on the next page. You will
probably need to use 4 lines for each alloy to be able to fit your
drawing in.
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name of alloy
metals it is made
from
18 carat gold
iron and carbon
stainless steel
copper and tin
brass
copper and nickel
solder
aluminium and
copper
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draw a picture to
show a use for the
alloy
Metals and oxygen
Read
Look at a periodic table and find the first column. You should
already know that the metals in the first column of the periodic
table are extremely reactive. They have to be stored in oil to
stop them reacting with the oxygen in the air.
oil
Lithium
Sodium
Potassium
Your teacher will show you some of these metals and show you
what happens when they are cut. When these metals touch the
air they react easily even without needing heat.
We are now going to look at some other metals. The aim of
the experiment is to react 4 different metals with oxygen
to work out the order of reactivity. We can work out which
metals are more reactive than others by looking at the colour
and the brightness of the glow that we see.
A chemical called potassium permanganate is used in these
experiments because when it is heated it makes oxygen.
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The experiment will be set up as shown in the diagram below.
thin plugs of mineral wool
metal
potassium
permanganate
clamp at mouth of test tube
HEAT
The metal is heated first then the potassium permanganate is
heated.
Write a heading and do the work below.
1. What column in the periodic table contains metals that are
very reactive?
2. How are these metals stored and why?
3. What is the aim of the experiment?
4. What will you have to look at to work out how reactive a
metal is?
5. Why is the chemical called potassium permanganate used?
6. Collect experiment card 2.10 and write a method by
a) writing a list of what you need to collect.
b) drawing a diagram of the experiment.
7. Copy the table below before you start the experiment
name of metal
zinc
copper
magnesium
iron
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colour of glow
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brightness of glow
8. Once you have tidied up, make a list of the 4 metals in order
of most to least reactive.
most reactive
least reactive
9. What safety rules did you follow when you did this
experiment?
Metal oxides
Read
When a metal reacts with oxygen a compound called a metal
oxide is made. The type of metal oxide depends on the metal
that was used. For example when copper was reacted with
oxygen the metal oxide that is made is called copper oxide.
When zinc reacted with oxygen, the metal oxide that was made
was called zinc oxide.
Write a heading and do the work below.
1. What type of compound is made when a metal reacts with
oxygen?
2. What is the name of the metal oxide that is made when
a) copper reacts with oxygen?
b) zinc reacts with oxygen?
c) iron reacts with oxygen?
d) magnesium reacts with oxygen?
3. What metal is used to make
a) tin oxide?
b) aluminium oxide?
4. When calcium reacts with oxygen a substance called calcium
oxide is made. Write a word equation for this reaction.
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5. Write word equations for the reactions between
a) copper and oxygen
b) zinc and oxygen
c) magnesium and oxygen
d) potassium and oxygen.
6. What is the name of the product in reaction between lead
and oxygen?
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Metals and water
Read
The metals in the first column of the periodic table are not only
very reactive with oxygen, they also react violently with water.
metal
safety screen
water
Write a heading and copy the table below. Fill it in while you
watch your teacher demonstrate the reactions of the metal
with water.
Metal
Lithium
Sodium
Potassium
what happened in water
Now try to answer the questions below.
1. All of the metals bubbled and fizzed when they were put into
the water. What does this tell you has been made in the
reaction?
2. Some of the metals melted in the reaction. What kind of
energy was produced in the reaction.
3. Look at a periodic table and write down what you think would
happened if rubidium was put into water.
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Testing gases
Read
We know that a gas was made when these metals reacted with
water because we saw bubbles but we do not know what the
name of the gas is. We can do experiments to work out the
names of gases using gas tests. You will have tested gases with
limwater and glowing splint earlier in this course. In this
experiment we will look at what happens with a burning splint.
Write a heading and try the work below.
1. Copy the table before you start the experiment. You should
be able to fill in the results for the limewater and the
glowing splint already.
Gas
test
Glowing
splint
Limewater
Burning
splint
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Carbon dioxide
Hydrogen
Now collect experiment card 2.11 and follow the instructions to
complete the last column of your table.
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2. Copy and complete the following sentences.
If a glowing splint is put into a test tube of
____________ gas the splint will relight.
If ______________ is put into a test tube
containing carbon dioxide the ______________
will turn cloudy.
If a burning splint is put into a test tube
containing hydrogen gas a _____ will be heard.
3. Carbon dioxide is often used in
fire extinguishers. What will happen
to a burning splint if it is put into a
test tube of carbon dioxide gas?
4. Oxygen helps things burn. What will
happen if a burning splint is put into a test
tube of oxygen gas?
5. Substances will not burn in the absence of oxygen. What will
happen to a burning splint if it is put into a test tube containing
pure nitrogen?
6. What will happen to limewater if it is put into a test tube of:
a) oxygen
b) hydrogen
c) nitrogen
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Calcium and water
Read
We already know that when we put metals like
potassium, sodium and lithium into water they
fizz and bubble. This means that a gas is
made in the reaction but we cannot collect the
gas because these metals are too dangerous.
Calcium is a metal element that is safer and
the aim of this experiment is to find out
what the name of the gas is that is made
when a metal reacts with water.
Write a heading and try the work below.
1. Why is it not possible to collect the gas that is made when
potassium is added to water?
2. What is the aim of the experiment you are going to do?
3. Write a hypothesis (what do you think the name of the gas is
hint: choose from carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen or
oxygen)?
Collect experiment card 2.12 and carry out the experiment
safely.
4. Describe what you saw when you added the calcium to the
water?
5. Did a chemical reaction happen? Explain your answer?
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6. When you tested the gas with a burning splint what
happened?
7. What is the name of the gas that is made when calcium
reacts with water?
Ask your teacher for some magnesium and add this to some
water in a test tube.
8. What did you see happening when you added magnesium to
the water?
9. Does the magnesium react faster or slower than the calcium?
10. Which metal is the most reactive - calcium or magnesium?
11. You have now found out about the reactivity of five metals
with water (calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, lithium).
Try to list them in order of most to least reactive.
most reactive
least reactive
12. John added four different
metals (A,B,C,D) to water and
drew a diagram to show what he
saw.
a)
A
B
C
D
John saw bubbles being made in three of the tubes. What
type of substance is being made (solid, liquid or gas)?
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b)
c)
d)
e)
John did not see a colour change. Has a chemical reaction
happened in test tubes B, C and D? Explain your answer.
Which tube contains the most reactive metal? Explain
your answer.
Which metal does not react with water? Explain your
answer.
Put the four metals called A, B, C and D in order of
reactivity. Most reactive first.
_________ most reactive
_________
_________
_________ least reactive
f) Think about how John did the experiments. Write down two
factors he would have had to keep the same to make the
experiment fair.
Read
We already know that when a metal reacts with water,
hydrogen gas is made but hydrogen is not the only thing that is
made. Another chemical called a metal hydroxide is made as
well.
Continue your work by answering the questions below
13. What is the name of the gas that is made when a metal
reacts with water?
14. What else is made when a metal reacts with water?
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15. What gas is made when
a) calcium reacts with water?
b) potassium reacts with water?
c) sodium reacts with water?
d) magnesium reacts with water?
Read
The name of the metal hydroxide depends on the metal that
was used. For example when calcium is added to water
hydrogen gas and a chemical called calcium hydroxide is made.
The word equation for this reaction would be:
calcium + water
calcium hydroxide + hydrogen
16. What is the name of the metal hydroxide that is made when
a) calcium reacts with water?
b) potassium reacts with water?
c) sodium reacts with water?
d) magnesium reacts with water?
17. When lithium reacts with water the new substances that are
made are hydrogen and lithium hydroxide. Write a word
equation for this reaction.
18. Write word equations for the reactions between
e) calcium and water
f) potassium and water
g) sodium and water
h) magnesium and water
19. Look at the word equation below
lithium + water
lithium hydroxide + hydrogen
a) what are the names of the reactants in this equation?
b) what are the names of the products in this equation?
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Metals and acid
Read
If a metal reacts quickly it is called a reactive
metal, if it does not react quickly it is called an
unreactive metal. Some metals react faster
with acid than others.
You are now going to try an experiment to find
out about how three different metals react with
hydrochloric acid.
1. Ask your teacher for the PPA instruction and assessment
sheets.
2. Follow the instructions to do the experiment and complete
your sheet (for the speed column use the words fast, slow
or no reaction).
3. Ask your teacher to check your assessment sheet before you
stick it into your jotter.
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Metal and acid - What gas?
Read
You saw that bubbles were produced when the magnesium and
the zinc reacted with the acid. This means that a gas has been
made in the reaction. In the next experiment there are two
aims:
 To find out the name of the gas that is made when a metal
reacts with an acid.
 To find out which metals are more reactive than others
between magnesium, iron and zinc.
Write a heading and try the work below.
1. What are the two aims in the next experiment?
2. Write down a hypothesis for each aim?
3. Copy the tables below for your results before you start the
experiment.
Metal
hydrochloric acid
Name of gas made
Speed (fast, medium, slow)
Zinc
Magnesium
Iron
Metal
sulphuric acid
Name of gas made
Speed (fast, medium, slow)
Zinc
Magnesium
Iron
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Now do experiment 2.13 and complete your tables as you go
along.
4. List the metals in order or reactivity.
most reactive
least reactive
5. Copy and complete the sentences below.
When a metal reacts with an acid the gas that is made is
___________. Some metals do not react with acids for
example copper, silver and gold.
6. Paula added four different
metals (magnesium, iron, zinc
and copper) to acid and drew a
diagram to show what she saw.
a)
b)
c)
1
2
3
4
Paula saw bubbles being made in three of the tubes. What
type of substance is being made (solid, liquid or gas)?
Paula did not see a colour change. Has a chemical reaction
happened in test tubes 2,3 and 4? Explain your answer.
Which tube contains the most reactive metal? Explain
your answer.
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d)
e)
Which metal did not react with the acid? Explain your
answer.
Copy and complete the table below by matching up the
correct test tube to the correct metal.
metal
magnesium
iron
zinc
copper
f)
test tube number
Put the four metals in order of reactivity. Most reactive
first.
_________ most reactive
_________
_________
_________ least reactive
g) Think about how Paula did the four experiments. Write down
one factor she would have kept the same to make the
experiment fair.
Read
We already know that when a metal reacts with an acid,
hydrogen gas is made but hydrogen is not the only thing that is
made. Another chemical called a salt is made as well.
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You should remember from the last unit about acids that the
name of the salt depends on the metal that was used but also
depends on the acid.
If hydrochloric acid is used the salt name will end in chloride.
If sulphuric acid is used the salt name will end in sulphate.
If nitric acid is used the salt name will end in nitrate.
So if iron reacts with hydrochloric acid, hydrogen gas and a
salt called iron chloride will be made. The word equation for
the reaction will be:
iron + hydrochloric acid
iron chloride + hydrogen
Continue your work by answering the questions below
7. What is the name of the gas that is made when a metal
reacts with acid?
8. How would you test to check that this gas was made?
9. What else is made when a metal reacts with acid?
10. What gas is made when
a) magnesium reacts with acid?
b) iron reacts with acid?
c) zinc reacts with acid?
11. What is the name of the salt that is made when
a) magnesium reacts with hydrochloric acid?
b) iron reacts with sulphuric acid?
c) zinc reacts with nitric acid?
12. When aluminium reacts with sulphuric acid, hydrogen gas
and a salt called aluminium sulphate is made. Write a word
equation for this reaction.
13. Write word equations for the reactions between
a) magnesium and hydrochloric acid.
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b) iron and sulphuric acid.
c) zinc and nitric acid.
14. Look at the word equation below
calcium + sulphuric acid
calcium sulphate + hydrogen
a) what are the names of the reactants in this equation?
b) what are the names of the products in this equation?
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The reactivity series
Read
You already know how to write a
reactivity series. A reactivity
series is a list of metals put in
order of how reactive they are.
The reactivity series you need
to know for intermediate 1
contains 14 metals but you do
not have to memorise it because
it is in the data book.
Write a heading, collect an intermediate 1 data book and
try the work below.
1. Look at the contents page of the data book. Which page
would you look at to find the reactivity series?
2. What is the name of
a) the most reactive metal in the series?
b) the least reactive metal in the series?
3. What is the name of a metal that is
a) more reactive than aluminium but less reactive than
calcium?
b) more reactive than mercury but less reactive than lead?
4. a) Explain how you use the information on page 6 to work out
which metals can react with oxygen.
b) List three metals that do not react with oxygen.
5. a) Explain how you use the information on page 6
to work out which metals can react with water.
b) Make a list of the metals that react with water
and circle the three metals in your list that are the
most reactive.
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c) Which one of the metals you have circled bursts into lilac
coloured flames when it is added to water?
d) Explain why it would not be a good idea to use magnesium to
make water pipes.
6.
a) Make a list of the metals that do not react with acid.
b) If magnesium is put into acid will hydrogen
gas be produced?
c) Fruit juice contains acid. Explain why zinc
is not used to make food cans for sliced apples.
7. a) What three metals in the series are the most dangerous to
use?
b) Look at page 8 in the data book. What do these dangerous
metals have in common?
8. Look at the order of metals in the reactivity series on page 6
of the data book. Why do you think chemists have made up a
nonsense word called MAZIT?
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