reactivity of metals

• What do metals react with to produce metal oxides?

  Oxygen in the air
• What are oxidation and reduction reactions collectively called?

  Redox reactions
• What occurs during oxidation?


  Oxygen is added to an element or a compound
• What occurs during reduction?


  Oxygen is removed from an element or a compound
• What is the chemical equation for the reaction of copper metal with oxygen?

  $2Cu +$$O \rightarrow 2CuO$
• In the reaction of zinc oxide with carbon, what happens to zinc oxide?


  Zinc oxide is reduced since it has lost oxygen
• In the reaction of zinc oxide with carbon, what happens to carbon?

  Carbon is oxidized since it has gained oxygen
• What are redox reactions characterized by?


  Simultaneous oxidation and reduction
• What is the reactivity series of metals based on?


  How they react with other substances
• What does a higher position in the reactivity series indicate about a metal?


  The metal loses electrons easily and is more reactive
• Which non-metals are included in the reactivity series and why?


  Carbon and hydrogen, because they are useful in extracting metals
• What is a mnemonic to remember the reactivity series of metals?


  • "Please send lions, cats, monkeys and cute zebras into hot countries signed Gordon"
• What are the chemical properties of metals studied through?


  • Their reactions with water
  • Their reactions with dilute acids
• Which metals react with water?

  Metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series
• What do metals that react with cold water produce?


  A metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
• What is the reaction of calcium with water?


  $Ca +$$2H_2O \rightarrow Ca(OH)_2 +$$H_2$
• How does magnesium react with cold water?


  Very slowly when finely divided
• What is the reaction of magnesium with gaseous water?

  $Mg +$$H_2O \rightarrow MgO +$$H_2$
• What is the summary of metals reacting with cold water?

  • Potassium: Reacts violently
  • Sodium: Reacts quickly
  • Lithium: Reacts less strongly
  • Calcium: Reacts less strongly
  • Magnesium: Reacts slowly
  • Zinc, Iron, Copper: Generally unreactive
• Which metals do not react with dilute acids?


  Metals below hydrogen in the reactivity series
• What happens when metals react with dilute acids?


  The hydrogen atom in the acid is replaced by the metal atom
• What is the reaction of iron with hydrochloric acid?


  $Fe +$$2HCl \rightarrow FeCl_2 +$$H_2$
• How does the reactivity of metals relate to their tendency to become ions?


  The more reactive the metal, the more easily it becomes an ion
• What is the summary of metals reacting with dilute acids?


  • Potassium: Reacts violently
  • Sodium: Reacts violently
  • Lithium: Reacts vigorously
  • Calcium: Reacts vigorously
  • Magnesium: Reacts vigorously
  • Zinc: Reacts less strongly
  • Iron: Reacts less strongly
  • Copper: Generally unreactive
• Why does aluminium not react with water or dilute acids despite being high in the reactivity series?


  It has a protective oxide layer that prevents reaction
• Why are carbon and hydrogen included in the reactivity series?


  They help predict how metals can be extracted from their ores
• What determines whether a reaction takes place between a metal and hydrogen?


  The position of the metal in the reactivity series relative to hydrogen
• What can carbon be used for in metal extraction?


  As a reducing agent to remove oxygen from metal oxide ores
• What happens to metals below carbon in the reactivity series during extraction?


  They can be extracted by heating the oxide with carbon
• What happens to metals higher than carbon in the reactivity series during extraction?


  They must be extracted by other methods, such as electrolysis
• What does the reactivity of metals indicate about displacement reactions?


  A more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from its compounds
• What is the reaction of zinc with copper(II) oxide?

  $Zn +$$CuO \rightarrow ZnO +$$Cu$
• What is the thermite reaction?


  A highly exothermic reaction between iron(III) oxide and aluminium
• Why is the thermite reaction used in welding?


  It releases so much heat that the iron formed is molten
• What is the reaction of iron(III) oxide with aluminium?


  $Fe_2O_3 +$$2Al \rightarrow 2Fe +$$Al_2O_3$
• What happens when magnesium displaces copper from copper sulfate solution?


  The blue color of the CuSO solution fades as colorless magnesium sulfate solution is formed
• What is observed when magnesium reacts with iron(II) sulfate?


  Magnesium displaces iron, forming magnesium sulfate and iron
• What is the summary of displacement reactions between metals and aqueous solutions of metal salts?


  • More reactive metal displaces less reactive metal
  • Observed as the more reactive metal disappears from the solution
• What can be compared using displacement reactions in salt solutions?


  The reactivity between two metals
• What happens to the more reactive metal in a displacement reaction?


  It slowly disappears from the solution, displacing the less reactive metal