Metals | SSC CGL Tier 2 - Study Material, Online Tests, Previous Year PDF Download

What are Metals?

Metals are naturally occurring substances originating beneath the Earth's surface. They typically exhibit a lustrous or shiny appearance. Being inorganic, metals are composed of materials that have never been part of living organisms.

Example of Metals

Metal possesses considerable strength and durability, making it a preferred material for crafting various items, including automobiles, satellites, and cooking utensils.

While the majority of metals are characterized by hardness, there are exceptions. Metals like sodium and potassium, for instance, can be cut with a knife. In contrast, mercury exists as a liquid metal at room temperature, showcasing the diverse physical states within the metal category. Iron, on the other hand, remains solid in its natural state.

Types of Metals

When all of the metals are to be considered as a group, an advantage may be gained if their names are set down in the tabular form.

Physical Properties of Metals

• Metals exhibit excellent conductivity for both heat and electricity, making them ideal materials for the production of items such as cooking utensils and irons.
• Ductility, the capacity to be stretched into a wire, is a characteristic of metals. This property, coupled with their durability, enables metals to be drawn into wires, finding applications in cable wires and soldering.
• Malleability, the ability to be beaten into flat sheets, is another property of metals. Aluminum sheets, known for their lightweight and strength, are used in aircraft manufacturing. Various metal sheets are employed in industries like automobiles and for crafting utensils, showcasing the malleability of metals.
• Metals are sonorous, producing a resonant sound when struck with a hard object.
• While metals generally have a shiny appearance, they can also be polished to enhance their glossy finish.

Chemical properties of Metals

• Interaction with Water: Only highly reactive metals demonstrate a reaction with water. Sodium, for instance, reacts vigorously with water and oxygen, generating a substantial amount of heat. To prevent contact with moisture or oxygen, sodium is stored in kerosene.
• Interaction with Acids: Metals reacting with acids result in the production of hydrogen gas. For instance, the reaction between zinc and hydrochloric acid produces zinc chloride and hydrogen gas.
• Interaction with Bases: While not all metals react with bases, those that do produce metal salts and hydrogen gas. When zinc reacts with strong sodium hydroxide, it yields sodium zincate and hydrogen gas.
• Interaction with Oxygen: When metals combust in the presence of oxygen, they form metal oxides, which are inherently basic. For example, burning a magnesium strip in oxygen produces magnesium oxide, and its dissolution in water forms magnesium hydroxide.