4.1 Reactivity of Metals

What is oxidation, in terms of oxygen?

Oxidation is a reaction in which oxygen is added to an element or a compound.

What is reduction, in terms of oxygen?

Reduction is a reaction in which oxygen is removed from an element or a compound.

What is the product when zinc reacts with oxygen?

The product when zinc reacts with oxygen is zinc oxide, ZnO.

What is the word equation for the oxidation of magnesium?

The word equation for the oxidation of magnesium is magnesium + oxygen → magnesium oxide.

What is the general equation for a metal reacting with an acid?

The general equation for a metal reacting with an acid is metal + acid → salt + hydrogen.

What is the balanced symbol equation for the reaction of calcium with water?

The balanced symbol equation for the reaction of calcium with water is Ca (s) + 2H2O (l) → Ca(OH)2 (aq) + H2 (g).

Name a metal that is above carbon in the reactivity series.

Potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, and aluminium are above carbon in the reactivity series.

Name a metal that is below hydrogen in the reactivity series.

Copper, silver, and gold are below hydrogen in the reactivity series.

Which metal is more reactive zinc or iron?

Zinc is more reactive than iron.

Which metal is more reactive aluminium or zinc?

Aluminium is more reactive than zinc.

What mnemonic can be used to remember the reactivity series?

"Please send lions, cats, monkeys and cute zebras into hot countries signed Gordon" (Potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, carbon, zinc, iron, hydrogen, copper, silver, gold).

What nonmetals are usually included in the reactivity series?

Carbon and hydrogen are usually included in the reactivity series because they are useful in extracting metals from their oxides by reduction processes.

What is the general equation for a metal reacting with water?

The general equation for a metal reacting with water is metal + water → metal hydroxide + hydrogen.

What is displacement?

Displacement occurs when a more reactive substance takes the place of a less reactive substance.

What are the products formed when iron reacts with silver nitrate solution?

The products formed are iron(II) nitrate and silver.

Why does aluminium not readily react with water and acids?

Aluminium does not readily react with water and acids because it has a protective layer of aluminium oxide.

What is the method of extraction for metals above carbon in the reactivity series?

Metals above carbon in the reactivity series are extracted by electrolysis.

What is the extraction method for metals below carbon in the reactivity series?

Metals below carbon are extracted by heating or reduction with carbon.

What is oxidation in terms of electrons (Higher tier only)?

Oxidation is the loss of electrons.

What is reduction in terms of electrons (Higher tier only)?

Reduction is the gain of electrons.

What is a redox reaction (Higher tier only)?

A redox reaction is one where oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously.

In the reaction Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu (s), which species has been reduced (Higher tier only)?

Copper has been reduced as it has gained electrons.

What is the half equation for the oxidation of zinc atoms to form zinc ions, Zn2+ (Higher tier only)?

The half equation is Zn ⟶ Zn2+ + 2e.

What is the half equation for the reduction of copper ions, Cu2+ (Higher tier only)?

The half equation is Cu2+ + 2e ⟶ Cu.

What are spectator ions (Higher tier only)?

Spectator ions are ions that appear unchanged on both sides of a chemical equation and do not participate in the reaction.

What does the mnemonic OIL RIG stand for (Higher tier only)?

OIL RIG stands for Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain of electrons.

What is the half equation for the reduction of lead(II) ions (Higher tier only)?

The half equation is Pb2+ + 2e → Pb.

What is the half equation for the oxidation of bromide ions (Higher tier only)?

The half equation is 2Br → Br2 + 2e.