reactivity series

• What happens to electrons when metals react?

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

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

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

  Lithium hydroxide
• How does calcium react with water compared to potassium, sodium, and lithium?

  Calcium reacts fairly rapidly but not as rapidly as potassium, sodium, or lithium
• What is the general trend in reactivity of metals with water?

  • Potassium, sodium, and lithium react very rapidly
  • Calcium reacts quite rapidly
  • Magnesium, zinc, iron, and copper do not react with water at room temperature
• Which metals do not react with water at room temperature?

  Magnesium, zinc, iron, and copper
• Why can't potassium, sodium, or lithium be reacted with acids?

  They would react too vigorously and it would be dangerous
• What does calcium produce when it reacts with dilute acid?

  Calcium reacts extremely vigorously with dilute acid
• 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
• What is the reactivity of iron with dilute acid?

  Iron reacts slowly with dilute acid
• What is the reactivity of copper with dilute acid?

  Copper does not react with dilute acid
• What is the reactivity series for metals based on their reactions with water and acids?

  • Potassium, sodium, lithium: very rapid with water
  • Calcium: quite rapid with water
  • Magnesium: rapid with dilute acid
  • Zinc: quite rapid with dilute acid
  • Iron: slow with dilute acid
  • Copper: no reaction with dilute acid
• Which non-metals are usually included in the reactivity series?

  Carbon and hydrogen
• Are students expected to memorize the reactivity series?

  No, but they could be asked to construct one from data
• What determines how rapidly a metal reacts?

  The ability of a metal to lose electrons and form a positive ion
• What ion does potassium form when it loses an electron?

  Potassium ion (K⁺)
• How does the reactivity of metals at the top of the reactivity series compare to those at the bottom?

  Metals at the top readily form positive ions, while those at the bottom are less likely to do so