Reactivity of Metals Flashcards
All 7 cards in this deck
State the reactivity series of metals from most to least reactive (including carbon and hydrogen).
Potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, (carbon), zinc, iron, (hydrogen), copper, silver, gold.
Why is potassium higher in the reactivity series than calcium?
Potassium forms cations / loses its outer electron more easily.
What are the steps to deduce an order of reactivity from metals added to dilute acid?
e.g. magnesium, zinc and iron in dilute hydrochloric acid
- Use same-sized pieces of each metal in the same acid.
- Observe bubbling rate and temperature rise: magnesium bubbles vigorously and gets hot; iron bubbles slowly and barely warms.
- Most vigorous = most reactive: magnesium > zinc > iron.
True or false? Copper, silver and gold all react with cold water.
False. None of them react with cold water; calcium does.
Why does gold resist oxidation and stay shiny in jewellery?
Gold is at the bottom of the reactivity series, so it has very little tendency to lose electrons and form cations.
What are the products when a reactive metal reacts with water?
A metal hydroxide and hydrogen.
e.g. calcium + water → calcium hydroxide + hydrogen
Which metals in the reactivity series do not react with dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acid?
Those below hydrogen: copper, silver and gold.