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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2001  > August  >
In the Classroom
Melting Point, Density, and Reactivity of Metals
Michael Laing
School of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
Cover
August 2001
Vol. 78 No. 8
p. 1054
Abstract
The density and melting point of a metal, taken together, can give a useful qualitative guide to the chemical reactivity of the metal. A high density and high melting point indicate a low reactivity; conversely, low density and low melting point indicate high reactivity. The melting point is allied to the heat of sublimation; the density gives a guide to the magnitude of the ionization energy. These two thermodynamic energy quantities are common to the Born-Haber cycles for the standard electrode potential, enthalpy of formation of the oxide, and reaction with water, which are commonly accepted thermodynamic measures of reactivity. Kinetic effects also play a role, not easy to quantify. A sharp discontinuity in the general trend of either melting point or density in the middle of a long period points to anomalous or unusual chemical reactivity of the metal.
More Information
*  Citation
 Laing, Michael. J. Chem. Educ. 2001 78 1054.
*  Keywords
 Descriptive Chemistry; Inorganic Chemistry; Metals; Periodicity / Periodic Table
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 July 10, 2001
April 14, 2005
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