Metal Reactivity Series

Question 1

List all the elements in the series from most reactive to least. (including carbon and hydrogen)

Answer 1

1. Potassium
2. Sodium
3. Calcium
4. Magnesium
5. Aluminium
6. Carbon
7. Zinc
8. Iron
9. Tin
10. Lead
11. Hydrogen
12. Copper
13. Silver
14. Gold

Please Stop Calling Me A Cute Zebra Instead Try Learning How Copper Saves Gold

Question 2

State the purpose of hydrogen in the series.

Answer 2

• to determine which metals can react with dilute acids.

Question 3

State the purpose of carbon in the series.

Answer 3

• used to extract metal from oxides

Question 4

Metal + Water → …

Answer 4

Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen

Question 5

Metal + Steam → …

Answer 5

Metal Oxide + Hydrogen

Question 6

Why can’t carbon reduce metals potassium to magnesium from their oxides?

Answer 6

• Carbon is less reactive than these metals
• Carbon cannot displace and extract very reactive metals from their oxides
• Carbon cannot reduce the metal oxide to the metal

Question 7

Why does some metal carbonates not decompose?

Answer 7

More reactive metals → More stable metal carbonates → More difficult to decompose the metal carbonate by heat.

Question 8

State the effect of heating from Calcium to silver carbonates.

Answer 8

• Calcium to Copper (II) carbonates decompose into metal oxide and carbon dioxide.
• Silver Carbonate decompose into silver, oxygen and carbon dioxide easily.

Question 9

Explain why Mg (s) displaces CuSO4 (aq).

Answer 9

• Magnesium is more reactive than copper.
• Magnesium displaces copper from copper(II) sulfate solution to form magnesium sulfate.

Question 10

Describe the observation made from Mg (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → MgSO4 (aq) + CU (s)

Answer 10

• Copper(II) sulfate solution changes from blue to colourless (Magnesium sulfate solution is formed colourless)
• Reddish-brown solid is deposited (Copper)

Question 11

Rusting can be sped up by…

Answer 11

• Dissolved Ionic Substances in water → increases conductivity and speed up rusting
• Presence of salt (Sodium Chloride), dilute acids (acid rain)
• Contact with another metal which is less reactive than iron. → Iron loses electrons to form Fe (2+) ions more readily than less reactive metals.

Question 12

How does coating iron with plastic/oil/compound/less reactive metal prevent rust?

Answer 12

Serves as a barrier protection which prevents the contact of iron with oxygen and water