Non Metals Science
Non Metals Science
Non Metals Science
The non-metals are the elements which have more than four electrons in their outermost energy levels, the non-
metals are characterized by the smallest atomic sizes and the largest electronegativity (electronegativity is the
tendency of an atom to attract electrons of the chemical bond to itself). The atomic radius is the size of the
atom, typically measured by the distance from the nucleus of the atom to the electron clouds around the nucleus
and depends on:
i. In the same group: the electronegativity decreases as we go down the group, this is due to the increase of
atomic number leading to increase the atomic radius, so, the ability of atom to attract electrons of the bond
towards itself decreases.
Ii. In the same period: the electronegativity increases as we move from left to right, this due to the increase of
the atomic number leading to decrease atomic radius, so the ability of atom to attract the electrons of the bond
towards itself increases.
Diffusion of gases: If gases have same temperature, one of them having smaller molar mass has greater
diffusion rate. If gases have equal molar mass, one of them having higher temperature has greater diffusion rate.
Rate of diffusion is defined as the volume of gas diffused per unit time which depends on density of that gas.
vapour density is the density of a particular gas or vapor relative to that of hydrogen at the same pressure and
temperature.
Molecular mass(M) = 2 X vapour density(d)
i. Displacement of Water
This method is suitable for collecting gases which are insoluble or only slightly soluble in water. As the gases
cannot dissolve in water and are lighter in density than water, they would rise to the top of the gas jar and be
collected there. Some examples of gases collected through this way include H2, N2, O2 and CH4.
This method is used to collect gases which are soluble in water and has a lighter density as compared to air.
Some examples of gases collected this way include NH3.
iii. Downwards Delivery (upward displacement of air)
This method is used to collect gases which are soluble in water and has a heavier density as compared to
air. CO2 and HCl is one of the gases which can be collected this way.
1.
Using concentrated sulphuric acid to dry most gases.
2. Quicklime is used in drying ammonia
3. Fused calcium chloride can also be used to dry most of the gases
3. They are poor conductors of electricity; graphite (carbon) is the only exception. They are also poor
conductors of heat
2. When they form ions, the ions are negative. They are electronegative elements. They gain electrons to be
stable hence forming ionic compound.
N3- O2- Cl-
3. They are oxidizing agents. For example oxygen gas (O2), ozone (O3), hydrogen peroxide ( H2O) halogens
(Cl2 F2), acids such as nitric acid(HNO3), sulphuric acid (H2SO4)
HYDROGEN
At room temperature and pressure, hydrogen gas exists as a diatomic molecule, H2.
Occurrence
Hydrogen occurs in water, oils and natural gas. It is so light and not present in air; as it has escaped from the
earth’s atmosphere, but out in space, it’s the most common element and without it there would be no life as it is
responsible for sun light and heat due to nuclear reaction inside the sun where hydrogen atoms fuse to form
helium atoms.
The gas is collected over water, the drying agent that can be Concentrated Sulphuric acid
[B] Reaction of a reactive metal with water
Example
Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g)
Note
Potassium and sodium float on water as they react with it, they must be wrapped in a wire mesh to make them
sink. The reaction of potassium with water produces a lilac flame and the reaction of sodium with water
produces a yellow flame.
Industrial preparation of hydrogen
b) cracking process
Is the process of breaking a long-chain of hydrocarbons into short ones, this process requires high temperatures
(thermal cracking).
C2H6 → C2H4 + H2
c) Natural gas
On the large-scale, hydrogen is produced by steam-reforming of hydrocarbons. In this method hydrocarbon
such as methane is mixed with steam and passed over nickel catalyst in the range 800-900 °C and 35 atm
pressures.
CH4 + H2O → CO + 3H2
In another process, steam is passed over a red-hot coke to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The mixture
of gases produced in this way is known as water gas (CO + H2). This is also called syn gas (Synthetic gas) as it
is used in the synthesis of organic compounds such as methanol and simple hydrocarbons.
C + H2O CO + H2 (syn gas)
The carbon monoxide of the water gas can be converted to carbon dioxide by mixing the gas mixture with more
steam at 400°C and passed over a shift converter containing iron/copper catalyst. This reaction is called as
water-gas shift reaction.
CO + H2O → CO2 + H2
The CO2 formed in the above process is absorbed in a solution of potassium carbonate.
CO2 + K2CO3 + H2O → 2 KHCO3
Chemical test for hydrogen: Hydrogen gas puts out a lighted/ burning splint with a pop sound.
Hydrogen is a non-toxic gas, very flammable gas and does not support combustion.
1. It is used in the manufacture of ammonia in Haber process
2. It is used in the manufacture of margarine from vegetable oil in the process called catalytic hydrogenation
3. Liquid hydrogen is used as a fuel in rockets because it does not pollute the air (no pollutants formed such as
nitrogen oxides). In a hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water and this reaction gives
out plenty of energy. (The negative pole surrounded by hydrogen pushes electrons into a circuit, a positive pole
is surrounded by oxygen accepts the electrons and an electrolyte is made of KOH solution which provides OH-
where hydrogen loses its electrons and is oxidized while oxygen accepts the electrons and is reduced to OH-.
The electrons flow through a wire to the positive pole as a current that can be used to power a car, light bulbs or
rockets.)
4. It is used as a reducing agent for metals below it on the reactivity series of metals.
CuO (s) + H2 (g) Cu (s) + H2O (l)
OXYGEN
3) Slightly soluble in water, about o.o1g will dissolve in 1 liter at 20oC. But this is enough to keep fish alive.
Method of collection oxygen gas: Downward displacement of water: Oxygen gas is collected over water
Drying agent: Concentrated sulphuric acid
WATER
Much of the water is obtained from rivers, ground water and rocks called acquifers. River water is not clean
even if it looks clean as it contains microbes such as bacteria and other tiny organisms that can make us ill(
diarrhea, cholera and typhoid) caused by drinking infected water. Accessing safe and clean water is very
important hence tap water is purified in treatment plants before distribution to homes.
The water is pumped through the screen which gets rid of large bits of rubbish. Then the water gets
Through following stages:
1. Course sand filter: The course sand filter tank traps the larger particles of solid
2. Sedimentation tank: Here chemicals are added to water, to make the smaller particles stick together. These
particles then settle to the bottom of the tank.
3. Fine sand filter: The fine sand filter traps any remaining particles.
4. Chlorination tank: In this tank, a little chlorine gas is added. Chlorine gas dissolves, and kills any remaining
bacteria. This is called disinfecting or sterilising the water. In some places, a flouride compound is also added to
the water, to help prevent tooth decay. Water is now fit to drink.
5. Storage tank: Water is now pumped into high storage tanks and from there piped to homes and factories.
The water that flows from the taps is clean but not quite pure. It still contains dissolved substances which were
not removed at the water works. Pure water can be made by distillation of tap or rain water
NITROGEN
Nitrogen exists as a diatomic molecule, it is an unreactive gas.
Chemically, nitrogen gas is very unreactive due to the strong bonds between the nitrogen atoms in the molecule
However, under forced conditions;
1. Nitrogen reacts with hydrogen gas to form ammonia in the presence of the iron catalyst
2. It also combines with oxygen at high temperature to form nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide
(NO2). The reactions occur naturally in the air during lightening and also in hot car engines and power
station furnaces. The nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) formed in hot car engines and hot furnaces when
nitrogen and oxygen in air react they form acidic oxides and cause air pollution that lead respiratory
problems. To tackle this problem, modern cars exhausts contain catalytic converter, in this, the harmful
gases are absorbed onto catalysts and react to produce harmless gases. The converter usually has
catalysts of transition metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium. They are coated onto a ceramic
support to give a large surface area for adsorbing of the gases. The harmless product gases flow out the
exhaust pipe.
Uses of nitrogen
1. It is a non-reactive insoluble gas hence used as refrigerant,
2. food packaging
3. manufacture of ammonia
4. It is used to provide an inert atmosphere during the arc welding of aircraft parts and in electric bulbs.
The need for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compounds in plant life
Nitrogen is essential in the manufacture of proteins while phosphorus is mainly needed for enzyme activity.
Potassium is important in the controlling of rates of photosynthesis and respiration.
AMMONIA
Chemical test for ammonia gas: Ammonia gas turns damp red litmus paper blue. It is alkaline in nature when it
dissolves in water it forms hydroxide ions.
The test tube must be tilted downwards to prevent the water formed from running back into the reaction mixture
which may boil and cause an explosion.
Method of collection: Ammonia gas is collected by down ward displacement of air (upward delivery method)
because it is less dense than air.
Drying agent used: Calcium oxide. Drying agents like calcium chloride and concentrated sulphuric acid should
not be used because they easily react with ammonia.
The mixture is cooled until the ammonia condenses. At the end of the reaction, about 10% of ammonia is
produced. The unreacted gases of nitrogen and hydrogen are pumped back to the convertor (iron catalyst) for
another chance to react.
Thermal dissociation of ammonium salts: When ammonium salts decompose they liberate ammonia gas
Uses of ammonia
1. It is used in the refrigerating plants as a refrigerant
2. It is used in the manufacture of explosives
3. It is used in the manufacture of plastics and glue
4. It is used in the manufacture of nitric acid
5. It is used as a cleaning agent
6. It is used in the manufacture of fertilizers such as ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate and ammonium
phosphate.
Examples
(a) 2NH3(g) + H2SO4(aq) → (NH4)2SO4(aq)
(b) NH3(g) + HNO3(aq) → NH4NO3(aq)
(c) 3NH3(g) + H3PO4(aq) → (NH4)3PO4(aq)
i. Ammonium sulphate is used as a fertilizer because it contains nitrogen and Sulphur needed by plants
ii. Ammonium nitrate is used as a fertilizer because it contains nitrogen needed by plants
iii. Ammonium phosphate is used as a fertilizer because it contains nitrogen and phosphorous needed by plants.
This method is based upon the catalytic oxidation of ammonia by atmospheric oxygen. Commercially, the gases
(ammonia and oxygen) are passed over a platinum-rhodium alloy catalyst at 9000c at a pressures of about 8
atmospheres.
Step 1: catalytic oxidation of ammonia at 9000C
𝑝𝑡−𝑅ℎ 𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑦𝑠𝑡
4NH3 (g) + 5O2(g) 4NO + 6H2O (l)
−→
This reaction is exothermic and sustains itself once started.
Step 2: Nitrogen (ii) oxide is cooled and reacted with excess air to form nitrogen (IV) oxide
2NO (g) + O2 (g) 2NO2 (g)
Step 3: absorption of nitrogen (IV) oxide in water to form nitric acid
3NO2 (g) + H2O (g) 2HNO3 (aq) + NO(g) .
Percentage of nitric acid can be concentrated from 60% to 68% by distillation because it forms a constant-
boiling mixture with water. If more concentration acid is needed, the dilute acid mixed with concentrated
Sulphuric acid and redistilled. Sulphuric acid has a strong affinity for water and so only the volatile nitric acid is
distilled.
(i) GRAPHITE
Graphite is a soft, black, crystalline form of carbon that is a fair conductor of electricity. It is made up of flat
sheets of carbon atoms. Each carbon atom is bonded to three others while the fourth electron is delocalised.
Since each carbon atom forms covalent bonds to three other, this gives rings of six atoms that join to make flat
sheets. The sheet of atoms lie on top of each other, held together by weak forces.
Physical properties of graphite
2. It has a high melting point. This is because the strong bonds between the carbon atoms within a layer make
graphite difficult to pull apart in the direction of the layer.
3. It conducts electricity because of free moving electrons in between the layers of carbon atoms.
4. It is a soft material with a slippery feel. This is because the sheets of atoms can slide over each other easily.
Uses of graphite
1. It is used as a lubricant because the layer of carbon atoms slide over each other easily
3. It is used in making the “lead” for pencils. This is because it leaves a grey streak when it is drawn across a
sheet of paper
DIAMOND
Diamond is a colorless, crystalline solid with an extremely high density it is a giant structure of carbon atoms.
Each carbon atom shares electrons with each of its four nearest neighbors, thus forming four covalent bonds In
addition, each carbon atom is imagined to be at the center of the tetrahedron surrounded by four other carbon
atoms whose centers are at the corners of the tetrahedron
4. It has a very high melting point of about 37000 C because each atom is held in place by four strong bonds.
Uses of diamond
1. It is used for cutting tools and drilling devices
2. It is used for cutting glass
3. It is used for making jewelry.
Amorphous carbon
Amorphous carbon such as coal and charcoal is porous and easily absorbs pigments from solutions
E.g. in the refining of white spoon sugar. Charcoal is used to absorb the brown colour from brown sugar which
is then turned white.
Chemical test for carbon dioxide: When it is bubbled through lime water the lime water turns milky due to
formation of a white precipitate.
4. for photosynthesis
5. used in baking
Uses of lime CaO (quick lime) and slaked lime/ lime water (Ca(OH)2)
1. In neutralizing acidic soil,
3. Lime is used in the neutralization of acidic industrial waste products before discharging them into rivers and
lakes
4. Calcium hydroxide is used as plaster of Paris for broken arms and legs
1. Manufacturing of lime,
2. Manufacture of cement
3. Manufacture of glass
4. Manufacture of iron i.e. it is used to remove impurities like silica as slag in the blast furnace
Greenhouse effect
In the day, heat from the sun (in the form of infrared) passes through the atmosphere heating up the earth. At
night, the earth radiates heat, to the outer space. Some atmospheric gases trap heat from the sun, thus preventing
the loss of heat. This is called greenhouse effect (which is essential or else the earth will be too cold for life).
Global warming is due to increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.