Reactivity, Rusting, Redox, and Chemical Naming Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering metal reactivity, rusting prevention, redox reactions, periodic table trends for Groups 1 and 7, and chemical naming rules.

Corrosion

The process by which metals react with oxygen ($O_2$) in the air to form metal oxides.

Rust

Hydrated iron(III) oxide, formed exclusively during the corrosion of iron.

Conditions for Rusting

The required presence of both water ($H_2O$) and oxygen ($O_2$) for iron to rust.

Reactivity Series

An arrangement of metals (potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold) in order of reactivity based on reactions with water, dilute acids, and displacement reactions.

Barrier Methods

Rust prevention methods that physically stop oxygen ($O_2$) or water ($H_2O$) from contacting iron, such as painting, oiling/greasing, coating in plastic, or coating in a less reactive metal like tin.

Galvanising

Coating iron with a layer of zinc to prevent rusting; intact zinc acts as a barrier, and if damaged, zinc reacts with oxygen instead of iron because zinc is more reactive.

Sacrificial Protection

Preventing rust by attaching blocks of a more reactive metal (such as zinc or magnesium) to an object so that the more reactive metal reacts with oxygen and corrodes instead of the iron.

Oxidation

A chemical process defined as the addition or gain of oxygen, or the loss of electrons.

Reduction

A chemical process defined as the loss of oxygen, or the gain of electrons.

Redox Reaction

A chemical reaction in which both reduction and oxidation occur simultaneously.

OIL RIG

A mnemonic for electron transfer in redox reactions standing for Oxidation Is Loss of electrons, Reduction Is Gain of electrons.

Oxidising Agent

A reactant that oxidises another reactant by providing oxygen or taking electrons, becoming reduced in the process.

Reducing Agent

A reactant that reduces another reactant by taking oxygen or giving electrons, becoming oxidised in the process.

Group 1 Elements (Alkali Metals)

A family of elements (including lithium, sodium, and potassium) whose reactions with water show similar chemical properties and an increase in reactivity down the group.

Group 7 Elements (Halogens)

Elements whose physical states, colours, and displacement reactions demonstrate a trend in reactivity down the group explained by their electronic configuration.

Chemical Naming Suffix "-ide"

A naming convention indicating that a chemical compound contains only two elements, such as copper sulfide ($CuS$) or lead iodide ($PbI_2$).

Chemical Naming Suffix "-ate"

A naming convention indicating that a chemical compound contains oxygen in addition to other elements, such as copper sulfate ($CuSO_4$) or sodium carbonate ($Na_2CO_3$).