Reactivity Series

Reactivity series most reactive → least reactive

• Please- Potassium

• Send- Sodium

• Little- Lithium

• Charlie’s- Calcium

• Monkeys- Magnesium

• And- Aluminium

• Crazy- Carbon

• Zebras- Zinc

• In- Iron

• Hard- Hydrogen

• Cages- Copper

• Securely- Silver

• Guarded- Gold

Practical: investigating the reactions of metals with dilute hydrochloric acid or dilute sulfuric acid

• Set up three boiling tubes and fill them with equal volumes of dilute hydrochloric acid or dilute sulfuric acid

• Place pieces of magnesium, zinc and iron in separate test tubes making sure the pieces of the metal pieces are the same size

• The speed of reaction is indicated by the rate at which bubbles of hydrogen are given off

Metal reactions with dilute hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid

• Magnesium reacts vigorously with cold dilute acid (hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid) and produces a lot of bubbles

• Zinc and iron react slowly with dilute acids but would react stronger if you heat them up

Metal reactions with water

• Potassium, sodium, lithium and calcium react vigorously with water

• Magnesium, zinc and iron won’t react much with cold water but will react with steam

How can metals be arranged in a reactivity series using displacement reactions with metal oxides

A more reactive metal will remove oxygen from a less reactive metal oxide. If a reaction occurs, the metal is more reactive. If no reaction occurs, it is less reactive.

How can metals be arranged in a reactivity series using displacement reactions with metal oxides

A more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from a salt solution. If displacement happens, the metal is placed higher in the reactivity series (more reactive).

Conditions for iron to rust

It rusts when iron is in contact with oxygen and air.

Ways that prevent iron from rusting

Barrier Method- coating iron with a barrier to keep out water and oxygen such as painting, coating with plastic or oiling

Galvanisation- coating iron with zinc. Zinc stops oxygen and water from reaching the iron since it is more reactive

Sacrificial protection- placing a more reactive metal with the iron so water oxygen react with the metal instead of iron

What is oxidation and reduction

Oxidation is the gain of oxygen and the loss of electrons.

Reduction is the gain of electrons and the loss of oxygen.

What is oxidising agent and reducing agent

Oxidising agent- Oxidises the substance and is reduced

Reducing agent- Reduces the substance and is oxidised

What is the chemical name for rust

hydrated iron oxide