reactivity series

• reactivity series


  lists the metals in order of their reactivity towards other substances
• How is a metal's reactivity determined?

  By how easily they lose electrons to form positive ions. So, the higher up a metal is in the reactivity series, the more easily they form positive ions.
• What is the order of the reactivity series?

  Potassium K

  Sodium Na

  Lithium Li

  Calcium Ca

  Magnesium Mg

  Carbon C

  Zinc Zn

  Iron Fe

  Hydrogen H

  Copper Cu
• reactivity series pneumonic

  Prisoners

  Smell

  Like

  Casserole

  Making

  Chicken

  Zebra

  In

  Homely

  Conditions
• how else is the reactivity series ordered?

  when metals react with water or acid they loose electrons, so the higher metals are in the reactivity series, the more easily they react with water or acid
• how are the metals ordered in the reactivity series?

  the top is the most reactive

  the bottom is the least reactive
• what is the equation when metals react with acids?

  acid + metal -> salt + hydrogen
• how can you tell the speed of a reaction?

  the speed of a reaction is indicated by the rate at which the bubbles of hydrogen is given off
• if the metal is more reactive will the reaction go quicker?

  yes
• which metals are the most reactive in acids?

  potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium react explosively
• which metals react less in acids?

  magnesium, zinc, iron
• which metal doesn't react in acid at all?

  copper doesn't in cold, dilute acids
• how else can you find the reactivity of metals?

  by measuring the temperature change of the reaction with an acid or water over a set time period

  
  

  if you use the same mass and surface area of metal each time, then the more reactive the meal, the greater the temperature change
• metal reaction with water

  metal + water -> metal hydroxide + hydrogen
• which metals react with water?

  potassium, lithium, sodium, calcium
• Which metals don't react with water?

  zinc, iron, copper
• what is a displacement reaction?

  when a more reactive metals displace a less reactive metal
• displacement reaction eg


  magnesium + copper sulphate solution -> magnesium sulphate solution + copper

  because magnesium is more reactive than copper so it displaces it
• another displacement example

  magnesium + sulfuric acid -> magnesium sulphate + hydrogen

  
  

  sulfuric acid is made of hydrogen and sulphur

  magnesium is more reactive than hydrogen