Reactivity series

• Metals in order of reactivity


  • Potassium
  • Sodium
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Zinc
  • Iron
  • Lead
  • Copper
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Platinum
• Determining order of reactivity

  1. Reactions of metals with cold water

  2. Reactions of metals with steam

  3. Reactions of metals with dilute hydrochloric acid

  
• Metals that are more reactive react with cold water to form metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas
• Metals that are less reactive do not react with cold water but react with steam to form metal oxide and hydrogen gas
• Reactions of metals with cold water

  • Potassium: Reacts very violently
  • Sodium: Reacts violently
  • Calcium: Reacts readily
  • Magnesium: Reacts very slowly
  • Zinc, Iron, Lead, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum: No reaction
• Reactions of metals with steam

  • Magnesium: Reacts violently
  • Zinc: Reacts readily
  • Iron: Reacts slowly
  • Lead, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum: No reaction
• Reactions of metals with dilute hydrochloric acid

  • Potassium, Sodium: Reacts explosively
  • Calcium: Reacts violently
  • Magnesium: Reacts rapidly
  • Zinc: Reacts moderately fast
  • Iron: Reacts slowly
  • Lead, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum: No reaction
• Displacement of metals

  A more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its salt solution or oxide
• Iron displaces copper from copper(II) sulfate solution, so iron is more reactive than copper
• Copper cannot displace iron from iron(II) sulfate solution, so copper is less reactive than iron
• Zinc displaces copper from copper(II) oxide, so zinc is more reactive than copper
• Copper cannot displace zinc from zinc oxide, so copper is less reactive than zinc
• Extracting metals from ores

  • Unreactive metals occur freely in nature, but most metals exist as ores which need to be extracted
  • Metals above carbon in the reactivity series are extracted by electrolysis, metals below carbon are extracted by reduction with carbon

  
• The more reactive the metal, the harder it is to extract from its ore
• Rusting of iron

  • corrosion of iron that produces rust
  • Requires oxygen and water
  • Can be prevented by creating a barrier around the iron
• Methods to prevent rusting

  • Painting
  • Oiling/Greasing
  • Plastic coating
  • Tin-plating
  • Chrome-plating