reaction of metals (chemical changes) chem paper 1

• Reactivity series


  • potassium
  • sodium
  • lithium
  • calcium
  • magnesium
  • carbon
  • zinc
  • iron
  • hydrogen
  • copper
  • gold
• Reactivity series


  • Potassium
  • Sodium
  • Lithium
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Carbon
  • Zinc
  • Iron
  • Hydrogen
  • Copper
  • Gold
• OILRIG


  • Oxidisation is loss of electrons
  • Reduction is gain of electrons
• Important ions


  • Ammonium
  • Hydroxide
  • Nitrate
  • Carbonate
  • Carbonate
  • Sulfate
  • Hydrogen
• Extracting aluminium


  1. Aluminium oxide is insoluble in water so it must be molten to act as an electrolyte

  2. Its melting point is very high so a lot of energy must be transferred to break its ionic bonds

  3. To reduce the melting point, powdered aluminium oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite
• In aluminium extraction


  1. At cathode, aluminium ions gain electrons and form aluminium atoms therefore meaning its been reduced

  2. At anode oxygen ions lose electrons and form oxygen gas therefore meaning its been oxidised
• Carbon extraction (heating metal with carbon)


  Used when a metal less reactive than carbon needs extracting from its compounds
• In carbon extraction electrolysis

  1. The electrodes are made of graphite which is a form of carbon

  2. The oxygen then reacts with the carbon making CO2 gas meaning it has to be replaced often
• Metal + acid


  Salt + hydrogen
• Metals below hydrogen in reactivity series don't react with dilute acids