A: Chemistry = Chemical Changes 2.3 The Reactivity of Metals Flashcards
What do you think prospectors risked in order to get rich mining in the Yukon?
All that they owned and even their very lives
What can even relatively small amounts of gold make a person?
Very wealthy
What can cause the price of gold to fluctuate?
Market demand and other economic factors
How much was a small coffee cup filled with fine grains of gold worth in December 2005?
Over $80,000
What are the two main reasons that make gold a valuable metal?
Attractive appearance and its physical and chemical properties
Fill in the blank: Gold is considered a _______ metal.
Precious
True or False: Gold’s value is solely based on its appearance.
False
What activity related to gold is still a hobby for many people today?
Panning for gold
What is the most malleable and ductile metal known?
Gold
Gold’s malleability and ductility make it ideal for creating jewellery and intricate objects.
How thin can a gram of gold be stretched into wire?
Thinner than a human hair, 3.5 km long
A gram of gold can also be beaten into a sheet measuring 1 m by 1 m.
Does gold readily react with other elements?
No
Gold is a very stable metal and does not corrode or tarnish easily.
What happens to metal atoms during corrosion?
They are oxidized to form metal ions
Corrosion is a process that affects metals, leading to their degradation.
What makes gold almost indestructible from a chemical perspective?
It can resist the action of most strong acids
Gold’s stability allows it to be used and reused for centuries.
What is a significant factor that contributes to gold being considered a precious metal?
Its rarity
All refined gold in the world could form a cube with each side measuring 20 m.
Fill in the blank: Gold is so stable that it does not readily undergo _______.
corrosion
This property is due to gold’s strong tendency to keep its electrons.
True or False: Gold objects tarnish easily.
False
Gold does not tarnish or undergo corrosion due to its stability.
What property makes gold a precious metal?
Gold tends to not participate in chemical reactions
This property is due to its stability and reluctance to lose electrons.
Which other metal is indicated to have low chemical reactivity similar to gold?
Silver
Silver also tends to not be chemically reactive.
What occurs at the atomic level during chemical reactions?
Electrons are exchanged
This exchange is crucial for the formation of chemical compounds.
What do gold and silver atoms tend to do with their electrons?
They tend not to readily lose their electrons
This behavior contributes to their stability and low reactivity.
What is the relationship between metal stability and reactivity as an ion?
The more stable a metal atom is, the more reactive it is as an ion
This trend indicates that stability influences reactivity in metal ions.
Which metal ion was found to be the most reactive in the previous investigation?
Silver ions, Ag (aq)
Their reactivity is due to their ability to gain electrons.
Fill in the blank: The tendency of silver ions to react indicates they must be able to gain _______ in order to increase stability.
electrons
Gaining electrons helps increase the stability of silver ions.
True or False: Gold and silver are very unstable metals.
False
Gold and silver are characterized as very stable metals.
Is it possible for a metal to be more stable in its ionic form than in its uncharged form?
Yes, a metal can be more stable in its ionic form
This leads to the metal readily oxidizing and undergoing corrosion.
Which metal exemplifies the trend of stability in ionic form?
Iron
Iron readily corrodes unless protected.
What happens to iron if it is not protected?
It readily corrodes
Corrosion occurs unless measures are taken to protect the iron.
What is a consequence of iron being used in production?
It has undergone corrosion
A significant amount of iron produced each year is affected by corrosion.
Fill in the blank: The metallic atom would readily ______ and easily undergo corrosion.
oxidize
Oxidation is a key process leading to corrosion.
True or False: Iron is less likely to corrode if it is left unprotected.
False
Iron is likely to corrode when unprotected.
What is the relationship between a metal’s stability in ionic form and its susceptibility to corrosion?
A metal that is more stable in its ionic form is more susceptible to corrosion
This is because it readily oxidizes.
What is the Activity Series?
A list that ranks metal atoms from most reactive to least reactive.
What governs the reactivity of metal atoms?
General rules that dictate the behavior of metallic ions.
Fill in the blank: The Activity Series organizes metal ions from ______ to least reactive.
[most reactive]
What type of metals are included in the Activity Series?
Metal atoms.
True or False: The Activity Series can be used to predict the reactivity of metals in solutions.
True.
What can be inferred from a metal’s position in the Activity Series?
Its relative reactivity compared to other metals.
What is the significance of the Activity Series in chemistry?
It helps in understanding and predicting chemical reactions involving metals.
Fill in the blank: The Activity Series is organized based on the ______ of metal atoms.
[reactivity]
What is the activity series used for?
A tool to compare the reactivity of metals and metal ions
In the activity series, which ion is more reactive: Cu (aq) or Zn (aq)?
Cu (aq)
What does the position of metal ions in the activity series indicate?
The relative reactivity of metal ions
In the activity series, do metals lower in the series have higher or lower reactivity?
Higher reactivity
Which is more reactive according to the activity series: Cu(s) or Ag(s)?
Cu(s)
What characterizes a spontaneous reaction?
Occurs without the addition of external energy
What is an example of a spontaneous reaction observed in the investigation?
Placing a strip of zinc metal in a solution containing silver ions
What type of reaction occurs when a strip of silver metal is placed in a solution of zinc ions?
Non-spontaneous reaction
What determines whether a reaction will occur between a metal and a metal ion in solution?
The activity series
How are stronger reduction reactions represented in the activity series?
Closer to the top of the series
How are stronger oxidation reactions represented in the activity series?
Closer to the bottom of the series
Fill in the blank: A spontaneous reaction occurs if a metal ion has a stronger tendency to _______ electrons than a metal atom.
gain
Fill in the blank: A non-spontaneous reaction does not occur without the addition of _______ energy.
external
True or False: The left side of the activity series compares the ability of metal ions to donate electrons.
False
What is the primary function of the activity series?
To predict whether a reaction will occur
What is the significance of the placement of half-reactions in the activity series?
Indicates the tendency to gain or donate electrons
What is the activity series used for?
A tool to compare the reactivity of metals and metal ions
In the activity series, which ion is more reactive: Cu (aq) or Zn (aq)?
Cu (aq)
What does the position of metal ions in the activity series indicate?
The relative reactivity of metal ions
In the activity series, do metals lower in the series have higher or lower reactivity?
Higher reactivity
Which is more reactive according to the activity series: Cu(s) or Ag(s)?
Cu(s)
What characterizes a spontaneous reaction?
Occurs without the addition of external energy
What is an example of a spontaneous reaction observed in the investigation?
Placing a strip of zinc metal in a solution containing silver ions
What type of reaction occurs when a strip of silver metal is placed in a solution of zinc ions?
Non-spontaneous reaction
What determines whether a reaction will occur between a metal and a metal ion in solution?
The activity series
How are stronger reduction reactions represented in the activity series?
Closer to the top of the series
How are stronger oxidation reactions represented in the activity series?
Closer to the bottom of the series
Fill in the blank: A spontaneous reaction occurs if a metal ion has a stronger tendency to _______ electrons than a metal atom.
gain
Fill in the blank: A non-spontaneous reaction does not occur without the addition of _______ energy.
external
True or False: The left side of the activity series compares the ability of metal ions to donate electrons.
False
What is the primary function of the activity series?
To predict whether a reaction will occur
What is the significance of the placement of half-reactions in the activity series?
Indicates the tendency to gain or donate electrons
What is the reduction half-reaction in the zinc and copper solution scenario? A piece of zinc metal is placed in a solution containing Cu 2+ (aq).
Cu (aq) + 2e⁻ → Cu (s)
This reaction describes the gain of electrons by copper ions.
What is the oxidation half-reaction in the zinc and copper solution scenario?
Zn (s) → Zn (aq) + 2e⁻
This reaction describes the loss of electrons by zinc metal.
How can you determine if a reaction is spontaneous based on half-reactions?
If the reduction half-reaction is above the oxidation half-reaction in the activity series, the reaction will be spontaneous.
The activity series ranks metals based on their reactivity.
What would you observe in the reaction between zinc metal and copper ions?
Copper ions would precipitate out as copper metal, and zinc would enter the solution as zinc ions.
A visible precipitate of copper metal would form.
Fill in the blank: In the reaction between zinc and copper, copper ions _______ and zinc metal _______.
precipitate out as copper metal; enters the solution as zinc ions.
What is a reducing agent?
A substance that makes the reduction process possible by losing electrons.
In a reaction, the reducing agent is oxidized.
What is an oxidizing agent?
A substance that makes the oxidation process possible by gaining electrons.
In a reaction, the oxidizing agent is reduced.
In the reaction Zn(s) + 2 AgNO₃(aq) → Zn(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2 Ag(s), which substance acts as the reducing agent?
Zinc (Zn)
Zinc promotes the reduction of silver nitrate by losing electrons.
In the reaction Zn(s) + 2 AgNO₃(aq) → Zn(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2 Ag(s), which substance acts as the oxidizing agent?
Silver nitrate (AgNO₃)
Silver nitrate promotes the oxidation of zinc by gaining electrons.
True or False: Oxidation and reduction can occur independently of each other.
False
Oxidation and reduction always occur together.
Fill in the blank: A reducing agent is oxidized when it _______.
loses electrons.
Fill in the blank: An oxidizing agent is reduced when it _______.
gains electrons.
How can the term ‘agent’ help in understanding the roles of reducing and oxidizing agents?
It indicates what the substance does.
For example, a reducing agent makes reduction possible, similar to how a travel agent facilitates travel.
What happens to silver in the reaction Zn(s) + 2 AgNO₃(aq) → Zn(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2 Ag(s)?
Silver gains electrons.
This indicates that silver is being reduced.
What is a reducing agent?
A substance that makes the reduction process possible by losing electrons.
In a reaction, the reducing agent is oxidized.
What is an oxidizing agent?
A substance that makes the oxidation process possible by gaining electrons.
In a reaction, the oxidizing agent is reduced.
In the reaction Zn(s) + 2 AgNO₃(aq) → Zn(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2 Ag(s), which substance acts as the reducing agent?
Zinc (Zn)
Zinc promotes the reduction of silver nitrate by losing electrons.
In the reaction Zn(s) + 2 AgNO₃(aq) → Zn(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2 Ag(s), which substance acts as the oxidizing agent?
Silver nitrate (AgNO₃)
Silver nitrate promotes the oxidation of zinc by gaining electrons.
True or False: Oxidation and reduction can occur independently of each other.
False
Oxidation and reduction always occur together.
Fill in the blank: A reducing agent is oxidized when it _______.
loses electrons.
Fill in the blank: An oxidizing agent is reduced when it _______.
gains electrons.
How can the term ‘agent’ help in understanding the roles of reducing and oxidizing agents?
It indicates what the substance does.
For example, a reducing agent makes reduction possible, similar to how a travel agent facilitates travel.
What happens to silver in the reaction Zn(s) + 2 AgNO₃(aq) → Zn(NO₃)₂(aq) + 2 Ag(s)?
Silver gains electrons.
This indicates that silver is being reduced.
What is the relationship between the stability of metal atoms and their reactivity as metal ions?
The more stable a metal atom is, the more reactive it is as a metal ion.
This indicates a direct correlation between stability and reactivity in metal chemistry.
What can be inferred about the reactivity of metal ions based on their stability?
The more stable a metal ion is, the more reactive it is as a metal.
This suggests that stability influences the ability of metal ions to participate in chemical reactions.
What does the activity series for metals and metal ions indicate?
It lists metal ions from most reactive to least reactive and metals from least reactive to most reactive.
This series is crucial for predicting chemical reactivity and potential reactions.
How can the activity series be used in chemical reactions?
It can be used to predict whether a reaction between a metal and a metal ion will be spontaneous or non-spontaneous.
Understanding the activity series helps chemists determine reaction feasibility.
Fill in the blank: The more stable a metal atom is, the more reactive it is as a _______.
metal ion
True or False: A less stable metal ion is more reactive as a metal.
False
The statement contradicts the relationship established between stability and reactivity.
Fill in the blank: The activity series helps predict whether a reaction will be _______ or non-spontaneous.
spontaneous
