The Reactivity Series

• What should you be able to do by the end of the video?

  Use reactions between metals and water and acids to construct a reactivity series
• What happens when metals react in terms of electrons?

  Metals lose electrons and form positive ions
• What is produced when potassium reacts with water?

  Potassium hydroxide and hydrogen gas
• How does sodium's reaction with water compare to potassium's?

  Sodium reacts less rapidly with water than potassium
• What alkali is produced when lithium reacts with water?

  Lithium hydroxide
• How does calcium's reaction with water compare to potassium, sodium, and lithium?

  Calcium reacts fairly rapidly but not as rapidly as potassium, sodium, or lithium
• What is the general outcome when a metal reacts with water?

  • Produces a metal hydroxide (an alkali)
  • Produces hydrogen gas
• Why can't we use water to compare the reactivity of magnesium, zinc, iron, and copper?

  Because they do not react with water
• Which metals do not react with water at room temperature?

  Magnesium, zinc, iron, and copper
• What happens when calcium reacts with dilute acid?

  Calcium reacts extremely vigorously
• How does magnesium's reaction with dilute acid compare to zinc's?

  Magnesium reacts rapidly, while zinc reacts quite rapidly but less so than magnesium
• Which metal does not react with dilute acid?

  Copper
• What is the reactivity series for metals based on their reactions with water and acids?

  • Potassium, sodium, lithium: very rapid with water
  • Calcium: fairly rapid with water
  • Magnesium, zinc: react with acids
  • Iron: slow reaction with acids
  • Copper: no reaction with acids
• What two non-metals are usually included in the reactivity series?

  Carbon and hydrogen
• What determines how rapidly a metal reacts?

  The ability of a metal to lose electrons and form a positive ion
• How does the reactivity of potassium compare to that of copper?

  Potassium readily forms a positive ion, while copper is much less likely to do so
• Are you expected to memorize the reactivity series?

  No, but you could be asked to construct one from data
• What can you conclude about the reactivity of metals based on their ability to lose electrons?

  • Metals at the top of the reactivity series lose electrons easily
  • Metals at the bottom lose electrons with difficulty