Metals and Non-metals

Physical Properties

Metals are generally lustrous, malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity, whereas non-metals lack these properties and are brittle.

Chemical Properties of Metals

Metals react with oxygen to form basic oxides, with water to form metal oxides or hydroxides and hydrogen gas, and with dilute acids to produce salts and hydrogen.

Reactivity Series

A list of metals arranged in order of decreasing reactivity, which helps predict whether a more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its salt solution.

Ionic Bonding

Chemical bonds formed by the complete transfer of valence electrons from a metal to a non-metal, resulting in oppositely charged ions held by strong electrostatic forces.

Metallurgy and Corrosion

The extraction of pure metals from their ores using processes like roasting and calcination, and protecting metals from degradation using methods like galvanizing and alloying.