Common Metals and Non-Metals Uses

Common Metals and Their Uses

• Gold, silver, and platinum are used in making jewelry.
• Zinc is used for galvanizing iron to protect it from rusting.
• Iron is used in making machines and steel for utensils.
• Copper is used in making electrical wires.
• Aluminum and titanium are used in the International Space Station, cooking utensils, aircraft, ships, cars, overhead cables, welding railroad tracks, and other various applications.
• Strategic metals like titanium, chromium, manganese, and zirconium are important for their use in atomic energy, space science projects, jet engines, high-grade steels, and defense equipment.
• Tin is used for soldering, foils, prevents chemical action and corrosion, and panel lighting.
• Lead is used in making water pipes, pigments, batteries, and alloys.
• Mercury is used in thermometers.
• Nickel and chromium are used for electroplating.

Non-metals and Their Uses

• Oxygen plays a crucial role in daily life.
• Sulphur is used in manufacturing sulfuric acid, matchboxes, gunpowder, antiseptic ointments, and in the rubber industry for vulcanization.
• Graphite is used as a dry lubricant in machine parts.
• Phosphorus is used in fertilizers to enhance plant growth and in crackers.
• Chlorine tablets and bleaching powder are used in water purification.
• Hydrogen and oxygen are used in cutting and welding with an oxy-hydrogen flame.
• Iodine is used to prevent thyroid problems, applied as a wound antiseptic, and in medical research to keep tissue samples frozen.

Reactivity Series of Metals

• The reactivity series of metals is a vertical arrangement of metals arranged in a decreasing order of reactivity.
• Metals more reactive than hydrogen include potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, iron, nickel, tin, and lead.
• Metals less reactive than hydrogen include copper, mercury, silver, platinum, and gold.

Displacement Reaction

• A displacement reaction occurs when a more reactive element displaces a less reactive element from its aqueous salt solution.
• The metal more reactive in the metal activity series can displace another metal from its salt solution.
• The chemical reaction that takes place in this scenario is called displacement reaction.

Displacement Reaction Examples

• Iron + Copper Sulphate → Iron Sulphate + Copper
• This experiment demonstrates that iron is more reactive than copper, and therefore displaces copper from its salt solution.
• Zinc + Copper Sulphate → Zinc Sulphate + Copper
• Similar to the previous example, zinc is more reactive than copper, and therefore displaces copper from its salt solution.
• Zinc + Iron Sulphate → Zinc Sulphate + Iron
• Zinc is more reactive than iron, and therefore displaces iron from its salt solution.
• Copper + Iron Sulphate → No reaction
• Copper is less reactive than iron and cannot displace iron from its salt solution.
• Iron + Zinc Sulphate → No reaction
• Iron is less reactive than zinc and cannot displace zinc from its salt solution.
• From these observations, it can be concluded that zinc is the most reactive metal, followed by iron, and then copper.

Key Insights on Metal Reactivity

• The metal activity series is a valuable tool to predict the outcome of chemical reactions between metals and their salt solutions.
• The relative reactivity of metals plays an important role in how they interact with each other and with other substances.
• Understanding the concept of displacement reactions provides insight into the fundamental principles of chemical reactivity.

This quiz explores the various common metals and non-metals, identifying their applications in everyday life and industrial uses. You'll learn how each element contributes to diverse fields like jewelry making, construction, and technology. Test your knowledge on the importance of these elements!