Describe any three chemical properties of metals with suitable examples
Answers
Metal Chemical Properties
Oxides
→ The oxides of metals are basic in nature which means that they turn red litmus blue in colour.
Example: Na + O2 → Na₂O
(However, amphoteric metals like Aluminum can form basic as well as acidic oxides)
Bondings
→ Metals always forms ionic bonds because they always have less number of electrons in their valance shells.
Example: Na⁺ + Cl⁻ → NaCl
Reaction with Hydrogen
→ Metals do not react with hydrogen generally but some do react to form ionic metal hydrides.
Example: 2Na + H₂ → 2NaH
Reaction with Chlorine
→ Metals react with chlorine to form stable metal chlorides which are electrolyts but non volatile.
Example: Mg + Cl → MgCl₂
Displacing Hydrogen
→ Metals displaces hydrogen from steam/water and acids if lie above than hydrogen in reactivity series.
Eamples: Na + Water → NaOH + H₂ + Heat
• Mg + Steam → Na₂O + H₂
• Fe + HCl → FeCl₂ + H₂