Chemistry: Metals and the Reactivity Series

what is the reactivity series of metals… in order

potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, copper

Reaction of potassium in air

Lilac flame leaving a white solid

Reaction of sodium with air

Yellow/orange flame resulting in white solid

reaction of calcium with air

Brick red flame with white solid

Reaction of magnesium with air

Bright white light flame with white flame

Reaction of Aluminium with air

Bright white light, and white solid

Reaction of Zinc with air

A glows orange and becomes a yellow solid that turns white on cooling

Reaction of Iron and air

Orange sparks and becomes a black solid

Reaction of Copper and air

Orange/red flame turns black solid

Potassium and water reaction observations

Moves on surface, floats on surface, disappears, heat released, bubbles of gas released, lilac flame produced and crackles at end

Sodium reaction with water observations

Moves on surface, floats on surface, disappears, bubbles of gas released, heat released, melts into silver ball, colourless solution

Reaction with calcium and water observations

Granules sink and rise continuously, bubbles of gas released, heat released, Ca disappears, cloudy ppt

Reaction with Magnesium and water observations

Very few bubbles of gas over a long period of time

How does Potassium and water react?

Very vigorously with cold water

How does sodium and water react?

Vigorously with cold water

How does calcium and water react?

Vigorously with cold water

How does magnesium and water react?

Very, very slowly with cold water

How is the reactivity effected as you go down the reactivity series

Gets less reactive

What two metals do not react with air

Silver and Gold

What is the equation for the metals with air?

Metal + oxygen → metal oxide

Potassium equation with air

4K + O2 → 2Na2O

Aluminium and air equation

4Al + 3O2 → 2Al2O3

What is the equation for reactions with metals and water?

Metal + water → metal hydroxide + hydrogen

Sodium and water equation

2Na + 2H2O → 2NaOH + H2

Calcium and water equation

Ca + 2H2O → Ca(OH)2 + H2

What 4 metals will only react with water?

Potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium

What metals don’t react with steam to give H* gas

Silver, Gold and copper

How do you prove a metal hydroxide is formed and what is observed?

Add phenolphthalein indicator and it should turn pink

What test is used to find hydrogen gas, and what metals can it be used on?

The squeaky pop test and can only be used on calcium and magnesium

What is the equation for metals and steam?

Metal + steam → metal oxide + hydrogen

Reaction of magnesium and steam observations

Bright white light, white solid formed, heat released

Reaction of aluminium and steam observations

Powdered aluminium…

Forms white solid, heat released

Reaction with zinc and steam observations

Orange glow produces into yellow solid which turn white on cooling

Iron and steam observations

Powdered form glows red forming a black solid

What metals in the reactivity series react with steam and not water… why?

Mg, Al, Zn, Fe

Steam has more energy by having a higher temperature

What is a displacement reaction

When a more reactive metal replaces a less reactive metal from a compound

Phytomining step 1:

The plants are grown in the ground that contain low grade ores. Plants are used to absorb metal compounds.

Phytomining Step 2:

Plants are harvested, dried, burned and in ashes we’ve metal compounds

Phytomining Step 3:

Acid (sulfuric) is added to ash to make solution called LEACHATE which has dissolved metal compounds

Phytomining Step 4:

Copper can be obtained from these solutions by displacement using scrap iron

Phytomining Step 5:

This technique avoids mining → no digging, quarrying

Property of metal compound and explain 1:

High melting point → strong ionic bonds that require substantial amount of energy to break

Property of metal compound and explain 2:

Don’t conduct electricity when solid → ions held by strong ionic bonds and can’t move or carry charge

Property of metal compound And explain 3:

Do conduct electricity with molten/dissolved → ions are free to move and carry charge

Examples of deliquescent substances

Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide

What is a deliquescent substance

Substances that absorb moisture from air and dissolve in it

What is a desiccant substance

A substance that absorbs moisture and promotes drying

Example of a desiccant substance

Calcium chloride

How can limewater be used to identify Co2 gas

Bubble gas through limewater and it will turn colourless to milky white