2.1 Metals and The Reactivity Series Flashcards by Amelia S

What is the reactivity series from most reactive to least reactive ? Think of a Ryhme

Potassium - Peter
Sodium - Smith
Calcium - Can
Magnesium - Make
Aluminium - A
Zinc - Zoo
Iron - In
Copper -Coleraine

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When potassium reacts with air what can be observed ?

Potassium burns with a lilac flame producing a white solid ( Potassium Oxide)
- 4K + O² > 2K²O

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What can be seen when sodium reacts with air ?

Sodium burns with a yellow/orange flame producing a white solid (sodium oxide)
4Na + O² > 2Na²O

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What can be seen when calcium reacts with air ?

Calcium burns with a brick red flame producing a white solid ( calcium oxide )
2ca + O² > 2CaO

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What can be observed when magnesium reacts with air ?

Magnesium burns with a bright white light forming a white solid ( magnesium oxide)
2Mg + O² > 2MgO

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What can be observed when aluminium reacts with air ?

Aluminium powder burns with a bright white light forming a white solid
4Al + 3O² > 2Al²O³

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What can be observed when zinc reacts with air ?

Zinc glows orange and produces a yellow solid which changes to white on cooling ( zinc oxide)
2Zn + O² > 2ZnO

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What can be observed when Iron reacts with air?

Iron filings burn with orange sparks producing a black solid ( Iron oxide - Fe³O⁴)
3Fe + 2O² > Fe³O⁴

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What can be observed when copper reacts with air?

Copper glows orange and produces a black solid ( copper(II) oxide)
2Cu + O² > 2CuO

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What metals react with water ?

Potassium, sodium and calcium

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What can be observed when potassium reacts with cold water ?

Potassium floats
Moves very rapidly across the surface
Bubbles of gas are released
Heat is released
Ignites with a lilac flame
Crackles/ explosion at the end
Colourless solution forms

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What can be observed when Sodium reacts with cold water ?

Floats
Moves rapidly across the surface
Bubbles of gas are released
Heat is released
Melts to form a sphere of molten metal
Colourless solution is formed

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What can be observed when Calcium reacts with cold water ?

Granules sink and rise continuously
Bubbles of gas are released
Heat is released
Grey powdered solid forms in the water

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What is the word equation for metals reacting with cold water?

Metal + Water > Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen

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What is the reactivity trend moving down a group ?

Atoms get bigger moving down a group
Outer electrons are further from the central nucleus i.e weaker attraction between outer electrons (-) and nucleus (+)
less energy is needed to move outer electron(s)
Atoms become more reactive
Reactivity increases down a group

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What happens to Reactivity moving across a period ?

Reactivity decreases across a period

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What happens to Reactivity moving down a group

Reactivity increases down a group

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What is the reactivity trend moving across a period?

Atoms get smaller moving across a period
Outer electrons become closer to the central nucleus so the attraction between outer electron(s) and nucleus become stronger
More energy is required to remove outer electron(s)
Atoms become less reactive
Reactivity decreases across a period

How should the reaction of metals with air be carried out if they are very reactive metals ?

Potassium and sodium (Group 1) are very reactive metals and these should be heated in the flame of a Bunsen burner and then reacted with oxygen within a sealed glass jar.

How are less reactive metals reacted with air ?

The less reactive series from calcium to copper can be reacted directly with oxygen in the air when heated.
- This can be done by heating the powdered metal in a crucible - the crucible lid is lifted occasionally during the heating to allow more air to get into the crucible

How is the reaction of the reactive metals and water carried out?

This is for potassium and sodium
-A small piece of the metal is placed in a trough half full of water (large volume of water)
The reaction is carried out behind a safety screen and the metal is handled using tongs
use safety goggles

How is the reaction of calcium and Magnesium carried out with water ?

What metals react with steam ?

-Magnesium
- Zinc
- Aluminium
- Iron

What can be observed when Magnesium reacts with steam ?

Bright white light is produced
A white powder remains

What can be observed when Zinc reacts with Steam ?

- Glows and produces a white powder - Yellow powder turns white when cooled

What can be observed when aluminium reacts with steam?

- Glows and produces a white powder - White powder remains

What can be observed when Iron reacts with steam?

-Iron is heated until it blows red -Black solid forms

What is the word equation for metals reacting with steam ?

Metal + Steam > Metal Oxide + Hydrogen

Where does carbon go in the reactivity series?

Between aluminium and zinc

How can metals less reactive than carbon be extracted from their ore (metal oxide)

Metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted from their ore by chemical reduction (gain of electrons/loss of oxygen) using carbon of carbon monoxide

How are metals more reactive than carbon extracted from their ore?

Metals more reactive than carbon are extracted using electrolysis - the breakdown of a substance using electricity

What is electrolysis?

The breakdown of a substance using electricity

What 2 metals are pure metals

Gold and silver

What 2 metals corrode quickly?

Iron and steel

What type of reaction is rusting ?

Rusting is an oxidation reaction where iron reacts with oxygen in the presence of water to form rust

What is the full chemical name of rust ?

Hydrated Iron(III) oxide = Fe²O³xH²O the H²O is variable in rust depending on the amount of water present

What is the word and symbol equation for rust ?

Iron + Oxygen + Water > Rust Fe + O² + H²O > Fe²O³xH²O

How is rusting speeded up ?

Rusting is speeded up by the presence of acid (e.g. dissolved

What are the problems of rusting ?

Iron or steel is the main metal used in large constructions (eg bridges, machinery and scaffolding) and so rusting of these things has economic and environmental implications - Unsafe - Rust is weaker than the metal iron - Expensive - Iron is relatively easy to extract from its ore and so it's a cheap metal, however rusty iron cannot be recycled so must be replaced when it rusts, so it's expensive to repair - It is Unsightly - Tonnes of rusty iron get thrown onto land fill sites as it cannot be recycled and therefore it affects the environment

What is steel

Steel is an alloy of iron which also contains carbon

What are the barrier methods of preventing rust ?

Painting - Gates, fences and cars Oiling or greasing - moving engine parts, hinges , bike chains Plastic coating - wires and chains Chromium Plating - decorative items e.g. taps Galvanising (covering with a layer of zinc) - Gates, buckets, nails

What is another method of preventing rust used for hull of ships ?

Sacrificial protection

What is galvanising and how does it work ?

- Galvanising is a barrier method which prevents rusting and it involves covering the iron in a layer of zinc. - Zinc is more reactive than iron causing zinc to react first and so zinc reacts before iron, even where the zinc coating is scratched or broken

What is sacrificial protection and how does it work ?