A metal is said to be an active metal when it reacts strongly and quickly with other elements due to the electrons in its structure and its ease of sharing the electrons with other elements. Show
In chemistry, the periodic table of elements depicts all of the known elements. The most active metals are the elements on the left side of the periodic table. A metal's reactivity increases as we go from the top to the bottom of the periodic table. Advertisement Corrosionpedia Explains Active MetalAll active metals are found in Group I of the periodic table (i.e., on the left side of the periodic table), except hydrogen, which is not considered a metal and lies at the top left hand corner of the periodic table. The most active metals in the activity series are lithium, sodium, rubidium, potassium, cesium, calcium, strontium and barium. These elements belong to groups IA and IIA of the periodic table. With respect to the reactivity of metallic elements listed on the periodic table, the metallic elements are broadly classified into four groups: Before we delve into the five different groups of metals, you ought to know that almost all of the elements in the periodic table are metals – 91 out of 118 to be exact. These metals can be further classified as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, and basic metals. In today’s blog, we’re going to be exploring the details of these fives groups so you have a better understanding when you’re recycling metal in Melbourne. The properties of metalsElements in the periodic table are generally classified as non-metals or metals although some elements have characteristics of both – these are called metalloids, but we’ll talk more about those later. The properties of a metal include:
Noble metalsThese metals are pure, nonreactive, and can’t form compounds. Their non-reactivity makes them perfect for jewellery and coins. Some examples of noble metals include palladium, copper, silver, rhodium, and osmium. Alkali metalsAlkali metals are very reactive and have low melting points. The alkali metals are named as they are because when they react with water they form alkalies. Alkali metals are soft enough to be cut with a knife. Some examples are potassium, lithium and sodium. Alkaline earth metalsFound in compounds with many different minerals, alkaline earth metals are harder, have higher melting points and are less reactive than alkali metals (but are still quite reactive). Due to their reactivity – they seldom appear in their pure form. This group includes calcium, magnesium, and barium. Transition metalsTransition metals are generally the types that we frequently think of when we think of the word metal. Some examples include gold, silver and iron – some of which you may notice are also noble metals. They are hard, shiny, strong and easy to shape. These types of metals are used for several industrial purposes. Other metalsOther metals (sometimes known as poor metals or post-transitional metals) are generally fairly soft with low boiling points. They are located between the metalloids and transition metals on the periodic table and have various uses. Aluminium is used when soldering, for example as well as to craft utensils whilst lead is used in batteries. Other examples include gallium and bismuth. MetalloidsAs we mentioned earlier, metalloids are elements that hold the properties of both metals and non-metals. For example, silicon is lustrous like a metal – but also quite brittle like a non-metal. There are seven metalloids found in the periodic table and can be found on the border between the metals and non-metals. Metal Fun Fact
Thinking of recycling metal in Melbourne?Whilst we all love a good element metal – most of us have a different kind of metal for recycling. Metal Men Recycling specialises in buying your scrap metal in Melbourne – no matter what form it may be! Recycling metal is a fantastic way to make some spare cash on the side as well as mitigate the negative impact on the environment. Is your business looking to offload a large amount of scrap metal? We can provide several bin sizes for free and drop-off/pick-up services so your day-to-day happenings are minimally affected. So, when you’re thinking of recycling your scrap metal in Melbourne – come down to Metal Men Recycling.
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