8.2.

2: The Chemical Earth - Elements

8.2 The Chemical Earth: Elements

8.2.2 Although most elements are found in
combinations on Earth, some elements are found
uncombined
8.2.2-LT2:Classify elements as metals, non-metals and semi-metals
according to their physical properties
Chemistry 1 readings and exercises: pp. 40-45

Physical properties of elements

Physical properties: properties of an element that can be determined WITHOUT
changing the chemical composition of the substance
Melting point: the lowest temperature at which a solid changes to liquid at
normal atmospheric pressures (100kPa)
Boiling point: the lowest temperature at which a liquid changes to a vapour
such that the vapour pressure exerts a pressure of 100kPa
Vapour: the gaseous form of a substance normally solid or liquid at
standard temperature and pressure
Vapour pressure: the pressure in a closed system where the rate of
vapourisation equals the rate of condensation
Density: the mass of a substance per unit volume (at 100kPa and 25C)
Electrical conductivity: the amount of current transmitted through a unit cube of the
material when a potential difference of 1V is applied
Thermal conductivity: rate heat energy is transferred through a unit cube of the
material when a 1C temperature difference is applied
The physical properties of element can be used to determine the purity of an element
I.e.: if a sample of an element possesses physical properties that deviate from
the literature indicates the sample may be contaminated with other
substance
E.g.: Impurities generally lower the melting point of a substance

Classifying elements
Elements: consist of atoms of the same type
They are assigned a one-letter or two-letter symbol used to represent the
element
Metals: elemental symbol= formula
Molecules particles than can move independent of each other
o Represent their symbol and the number of atoms present within the
molecule
Network elements: particles arranged as atoms in complex network
arrangements
o E.g. carbon in diamond and graphite
o Simple elemental symbols represent their formulae (much like the metals)
8.2.2: The Chemical Earth - Elements
Physical state
Elements can be classified according to their physical state (solid/liquid/gas) at
standard temperatures and pressures (25C/100kPa)
Most elements are solid
2 elements bromine (Br2) and mercury (Hg) are liquid
11 elements hydrogen (H2); helium (He); nitrogen (N2); oxygen (O2); fluorine
(F2); neon (Ne); chlorine (Cl2); argon (Ar); krypton (Kr); xenon (Xe); radon (Rn)
are gases
Diatomic molecules: molecule consisting of two chemically bound atoms

Figure 1: The molecular structure of some elements (from Chemistry Contexts 1, p. 31)

Metals, non-metals and semi-metals

Metals: Solids at room temperature (Hg being the exception) (generally high
melting and boiling points)
Lustrous, malleable and ductile
Lustrous: shiny
Malleable: ability to be shaped without breaking
Ductile: ability to be drawn into thin wires without breaking
High electrical conductivity
High densities, exceptions: lithium (Li); sodium (Na); potassium (K)
High melting temperatures (i.e. solids at normal temperatures);
exceptions: mercury (Hg); gallium (Ga)
(N.B.: due the above properties are generalisations for metals; there will
be some exceptions to these rules)
Semi-metals: low sheen; moderately malleable
(possess a combination of properties common to metals and
non-metals)
Moderate electrical conductivity (i.e. semi-conductor properties)
8.2.2: The Chemical Earth - Elements
Non-metals: may be solids, liquids or gases at room temp (variable melting and
boiling points)
Dull and brittle
Non-conductors of electricity

Table 1: Physical properties of metals, semi-metals and non-metals (from Chemistry 1, p. 44)
8.2.2: The Chemical Earth - Elements

8.2.2-LT3:Account for the uses of metals and non-metals in terms of

their physical properties
Uses of elements
The use of an element is related to the physical and chemical properties it possesses

Table 2: Properties related to use (from Chemistry 1, p. 47)

8.2.2-LT1:Explain the relationship between the reactivity of an

element and the likelihood of its existing as an uncombined
element
Chemistry 1 readings and exercises: pp. 46-48

Chemical reactivity of elements

Reactivity: refers to an element's tendency to react
The reactivity of an element is related to the electronic structure of an element
Unreactive elements: can exist as free substances in nature
Reactive elements: combine with other substance in the environment, forming
compounds
Noble metals are unreactive metals (which only react with other substances under
extreme conditions)
E.g.: gold (Au); iron (Fe); platinum (Pt); palladium (Pd); osmium (Os); rhodium
(Rh); ruthenium (Ru); iridium (Ir)
Such metals can be found free in the lithosphere, often found together as an
alloy (def.: mixture of a metal with one or more other elements)
AKA: native metals
Reactive metals can be ranked by their chemical reactivity with other materials (e.g.:
O2, H2O and acids) this is the activity series
8.2.2: The Chemical Earth - Elements

Table 3: Metal activity series (from Chemistry 1, p. 47)

Noble gases: unreactive gases that exist free in nature

AKA: inert gases
Group 18; e.g.: helium (He); neon (Ne)
Reactive gases may exist as free elements in nature if their environments prevent
their reaction with other substances
Oxygen (O2): free element in atmosphere due to low reactivity with nitrogen
(N2) and argon (Ar)
Sulphur (S):found in subterranean ore bodies due to insolubility in water and low
reactivity with (dissolved) O2 at low temperatures
Metals the history if their discovery is related to the reactivity of the metal, i.e.:
The LESS reactive a metal is
o The MORE likely it is to be found in its native (uncombined) state
The EARLIER it was discovered in human history
(The opposite is true for MORE reactive elements, both metals and non-metals)