Chemistry — Metals & Non-Metals

Graphite, an allotrope of carbon, possesses free electrons due to its hexagonal layer structure, allowing it to conduct electricity.

Bauxite is the principal ore of aluminium and is the main source of the metal worldwide.

Titanium is often called the 'metal of the future' because it is as strong as steel but much lighter and highly resistant to corrosion.

Galvanization is the application of a protective zinc coating to steel or iron to prevent rusting.

Most metals react with dilute acids to produce a salt and hydrogen gas.

Alkali metals like sodium and potassium are soft enough to be easily cut with a knife.

Chlorine is widely used as a disinfectant in water treatment to kill bacteria and other pathogens.

Bronze is primarily an alloy consisting of copper, usually with tin as the main additive.

Tungsten has the highest melting point of all metallic elements, making it ideal for light bulb filaments.

An amalgam is an alloy of mercury with one or more other metals (like silver, gold, or tin).

Ductility is the physical property of a metal that allows it to be stretched into thin wires without breaking.

Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust, followed by Iron.

Aqua regia is a freshly prepared mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl) and concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) in a ratio of 3:1.

Carbon exists in various allotropic forms, including diamond, graphite, and fullerenes.

Cinnabar is the bright red mineral form of mercury(II) sulphide (HgS).

Sodium is highly reactive and reacts vigorously with oxygen and water, so it is stored under kerosene to keep it isolated.

In the reactivity series, Potassium is at the top, making it highly reactive, while Gold is at the bottom (least reactive).

Most metal oxides are basic in nature; when they dissolve in water, they form metal hydroxides, which are bases.

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron with chromium (which provides corrosion resistance) and nickel.

Galvanization is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron to prevent rusting.

Fluorine has the highest electronegativity value on the Pauling scale, making it the most reactive non-metal.

Titanium is known as the 'strategic metal' due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and exceptional corrosion resistance.

Brass is an alloy consisting primarily of copper and zinc.

Malleability is the physical property of metals that allows them to be deformed under compressive stress into thin sheets.

Oxygen is the most abundant element in the Earth's crust (approx. 46.6%), followed by Silicon and Aluminum.

Most metal oxides are basic in nature; they react with water to form metal hydroxides, which are alkaline.

Platinum is highly resistant to corrosion and is extensively used in catalytic converters due to its surface reactivity.

Sulfur is added to rubber in the vulcanization process to cross-link polymer chains, improving hardness and elasticity.

Cast iron typically contains 2% to 4% carbon, which makes it significantly harder and more brittle than pure iron.

Silver possesses the highest electrical conductivity of all metals, though copper is more commonly used due to cost-effectiveness.

Pyrolusite (MnO2) is the most important ore of manganese.

Graphite, an allotrope of carbon, has delocalized electrons, making it a good conductor of electricity.

Bronze is a metallic alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive.

Unlike most other acids, Nitric acid usually acts as an oxidizing agent, but with Mg and Mn, it produces hydrogen gas.

Highly reactive metals like sodium are extracted by the electrolysis of their molten salts (Down's process).

Flux is a substance that reacts with gangue (impurities) to form a fusible slag, which is easier to remove.

Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) reacts with both acids and bases to produce salt and water, classifying it as amphoteric.

The reactivity series of metals places Potassium at the top, followed by Sodium, Calcium, and Magnesium.

Iron is the central metal ion in the heme group of hemoglobin, responsible for binding oxygen in the blood.

Magnesium is more reactive than iron and acts as a sacrificial anode, corroding instead of the iron structure it protects.

In thermite welding, powdered aluminum is reacted with iron(III) oxide to produce molten iron, which fills the gaps in railway tracks.

Chlorine is a powerful disinfectant and bleaching agent used widely in water treatment plants.

Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is amphoteric, meaning it reacts with both strong acids and strong bases.

Galena (PbS) is the principal natural mineral ore of lead.

Chromium (usually at least 10.5%) is added to steel to form a passive layer of chromium oxide, preventing rust.

Corrosion is the gradual destruction of materials (usually metals) by chemical reaction with their environment.

Flux is added to combine with non-fusible gangue impurities to form a fusible material called slag, which can be easily removed.

Silver has the highest thermal and electrical conductivity of all metals.

Highly reactive metals cannot be reduced by carbon, so electrolytic reduction of their molten salts is used.