reactivity series

• When magnesium is reacted with oxygen you can see a bright white light and a white solid
• When iron is reacted with oxygen you can see orange sparks, a glow and a black solid
• When sodium is reacted with oxygen you can see an orange flame and a white solid
• When copper is reacted with oxygen it doesn't burn and a black layer forms on the surface
• Burning an element in air isn't as exciting as burning it in 100% oxygen as air only contains 21% oxygen so there's less to react with air
• When lithium is reacted with water it begins to fizz, floats/moves on the surface and the solid disappears. It is the least reactive in water from the Group 1 metals
• When sodium is reacted with water is begins to fizz, floats/ moves on the surface, melts into a ball and the solid disappears. It is the second most reactive with water from the group 1 metals
• When reacting potassium with water its begins to fizz, floats/moves on the surface, melts into a ball, the solid disappears and there is a lilac flame. It is the most reactive with water from the group 1 metals
• When magnesium is reacted with water there is a small amount of fizzing and the solid disappears for a week. It is the least reactive with water from the group 2 metals
• When calcium is reacted with water there is fizzing, it turns cloudy and the solid disappears. It is the most reactive from the group 2 metals
• To test for hydrogen gas you get an empty test tube and put a lit splint inside the test tube. If there is a squeaky pop hydrogen gas is present
• When magnesium is reacted with steam you see a bright white light and a white solid
• To react magnesium with steam you put wet cotton wool at the bottom of the test tube and then add the magnesium and have a flame of hydrogen
• When calcium is reacted with hydrochloric acid it begins to steam, becomes very hot, lots of bubble and the solid disappears. It is the most reactive metal with water
• When magnesium is reacted with hydrochloric acid the solid disappears, it becomes warm and there are lots of bubbles but not as much as calcium. It is the second most reactive
• When zinc is reacted with water there is some bubbles and fizzing. It is the third most reactive
• When iron is reacted with water there are a few bubbles. It is the fourth most reactive
• When copper is reacted with water there are no bubbles and no reaction. It is the least reactive
• When a metal reacts with a type of acid the products are a metal salt and hydrogen
• Hydrochloric acid makes a chloride salt
• Sulfuric acid makes a sulfuric salr
• Nitric acid makes a nitrate salt
• Potassium - lilac flame, reacts vigorously with water no.1
• Sodium - melts into a ball, moves quicky on surface no.2
• Lithium - moves slowly on surface no.3
• Calcium - less vigorous no.4
• Magnesium - very slow reaction in water but reacts with steam and acid no.5
• Zinc - reacts with acid, bubbles no.6
• Iron - reacts with acid, less bubble no.7
• Copper - no reaction with acid no.8
• A displacement reaction is when a more reactive metal displaces (takes the place of) the less reactive metal from the compound
• Displaces means takes the place of
• A metal cannot displace itself
• Iron is more reactive than copper, iron displaces copper from copper sulfate. So it is now iron sulfate + copper