4.1 Reactivity Series

• Metals reactivity determination

  how easily they lose electrons - form positive ions
• metal reaction with water or acid

  lose electrons - form positive ions
• Reactivity Series Order

  Potassium - K

  Sodium - Na

  Lithium - Li

  Calcium - Ca

  Magnesium - Mg

  CARBON - C

  Zinc - Zn

  Iron - Fe

  HYDROGEN - H

  Copper - Cu
• Why are Carbon and Hydrogen included in Reactivity Series?

  non metals - gives information about how metals will react with them
• Metals less reactive than CARBON

  can be extracted from their ores by reduction with carbon
• Metals more reactive than HYDROGEN

  will react with acids
• Ionic Equation - Magnesium, Iron, Zinc

  • Mg + 2H+ → (Mg 2+) + H2
  • Fe + 2H+ → (Fe 2+) + H2
  • Zn + 2H+ → (Zn 2+) + H2
• Half Equation

  Mg → (Mg 2+) + 2e-

  • magnesium is oxidised - losing electrons

  (2H+) + 2e- → H2

  • hydrogen is reduced - gaining electrons