2.1 Metals and The Reactivity Series Flashcards
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
When potassium reacts with air what can be observed ?
Potassium burns with a lilac flame producing a white solid ( Potassium Oxide)
- 4K + O² > 2K²O
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
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
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
What can be observed when aluminium reacts with air ?
Aluminium powder burns with a bright white light forming a white solid
4Al + 3O² > 2Al²O³
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
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
What can be observed when copper reacts with air?
Copper glows orange and produces a black solid ( copper(II) oxide)
2Cu + O² > 2CuO
What metals react with water ?
Potassium, sodium and calcium
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
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
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
What is the word equation for metals reacting with cold water?
Metal + Water > Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen
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
What happens to Reactivity moving across a period ?
Reactivity decreases across a period
What happens to Reactivity moving down a group
Reactivity increases down a group
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 ?
