Metals and Reactivity Series

Question 1

What is the order of reactivity for metals?

Answer 1

Potassium
Sodium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Zinc
Iron
Copper

Question 2

Why is potassium more reactive than sodium?

Answer 2

It has a tendency to lose its outer electron easier compared to sodium, due to its bigger atomic radius.

Question 3

What is the general word equation for the reaction of metals with cold water?

Answer 3

Metal + Water > Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen

Question 4

Does sodium, potassium or calcium float or sink when reacted with cold water?

Answer 4

Sodium - Floats
Potassium - Floats
Calcium - Sinks then floats

Question 5

Is there any energy change when sodium, potassium and calcium is reacted with cold water?

Answer 5

Sodium - Yes
Potassium - Yes
Calcium - Yes

Question 6

Does sodium, potassium or calcium give a gas off when reacted with cold water?

Answer 6

Sodium - Yes (H2)
Potassium - Yes (H2)
Calcium - Yes (H2)

Question 7

Does sodium, potassium or calcium produce a flame when reacted with cold water?

Answer 7

Sodium - Yes (orange)
Potassium - Yes (lilac)
Calcium - No

Question 8

Does sodium, potassium or calcium change colour in universal indicator after being reacted with cold water?

Answer 8

Sodium - Yes (blue)
Potassium - Yes (blue)
Calcium - Yes (blue)

Question 9

What are the safety precautions taken in this experiment?

Answer 9

Use safety screen.
Wear gloves.
Wear goggles.
Use heat proof mat.
Use large volume of water.
Use tweezers.
Use small amount of metal.

Question 10

How do you test for the hydrogen gas given off?

Answer 10

Place test tube above water trough to collect gas and put a lighted splint in to test tube to identify gas. If squeaky pop produced gas is hydrogen.

Question 11

What are the observations of the reaction of sodium with cold water?

Answer 11

Spins across the surface
May ignite and burn with an orange flame
Forms a molten ball
Effervescence/fizzing (NOT GAS EVOLVED)
Metal disappears
Colourless alkaline solution forms
Heat given out

Question 12

What are the observations of the reaction of potassium with cold water?

Answer 12

Spins across the surface
Burns with a lilac flame
Effervescence/fizzing
Metal disappears
Colourless alkaline solution forms
Heat given out

Question 13

What are the observations of the reaction of calcium with cold water?

Answer 13

Calcium sinks and then rises
Bubbles/fizzing
Reaction gets faster as it proceeds
Solution goes cloudy
Calcium gets smaller/disappears
Solution formed is alkaline
Heat given out/reaction vessel gets warmer

Question 14

What is the equation for reactions with steam?

Answer 14

Metal + steam > metal oxide + hydrogen

Question 15

What metals can react with steam?

Answer 15

Magnesium
Aluminium
Zinc
Iron

Question 16

What are the observations of the reaction of magnesium with steam?

Answer 16

Bright white light
White solid formed
Heat given out

Question 17

What is the word and symbol equation for the reaction of magnesium with steam?

Answer 17

Magnesium + steam > magnesium oxide + hydrogen

Mg(s) + H2O(g) > MgO(s) + H2(g)

Question 18

What are the observations of the reaction of aluminium with steam?

Answer 18

Powdered aluminium reacts to give a white solid
Heat is given out

No reaction with aluminium foil unless protective layer of aluminium oxide is removed.

Question 19

What is the word and symbol equation of the reaction of aluminium with steam?

Answer 19

Aluminium + steam > aluminium oxide + hydrogen

2Al(s) + 3H2O(g) > Al2O3(s) + 3H2(g)

Question 20

What are the observations of the reaction of zinc with steam?

Answer 20

Powdered zinc reacts to form a yellow solid ( changes to white on cooling)
Heat is given out

Question 21

What is the word and symbol equation for the reaction of zinc with steam?

Answer 21

Zinc + steam > zinc oxide + hydrogen

Zn(s) + H2O(g) > ZnO(s) + H2(g)

Question 22

What are the observations of the reaction of iron with steam?

Answer 22

Powdered iron reacts to form a black solid

Question 23

What is the word and symbol equation for the reaction of iron with steam?

Answer 23

Iron + steam > iron oxide + hydrogen

3Fe(s) + 4H2O(g) > Fe3O4 + 4H2(g)

Due to two different charges of iron, both iron(ll) and iron(lll) oxide are formed, and together form a mixed oxide: Fe3O4

Question 24

What is investigated in the reaction of magnesium with oxygen?

Answer 24

Appearance before burning: silver
Appearance after burning: white (bright white light produced)
Colour of universal indicator: dark green

Question 25

What is investigated in the reaction of iron with oxygen?

Answer 25

Appearance before burning: grey
Appearance after burning: black (glowed orange and sparked)
Colour of universal indicator: dark green

Question 26

What is investigated in the reaction of copper with oxygen?

Answer 26

Appearance before burning: red-brown
Appearance after burning: black
Colour of universal indicator: dark green

Question 27

What are all metal oxides?

Answer 27

Basic (alkaline)

Question 28

What is a displacement reaction?

Answer 28

When a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution.

Question 29

What is the method for a displacement reaction?

Answer 29

1. Using a pipette, place approximately 5cm3^ of solution A in test tube.
2. Place thermometer in test tube and record initial temperature of solution to nearest whole number.
3. Add one 3cm piece of magnesium ribbon to solution and stir using thermometer.
4. Monitor temperature and record highest temperature achieved to nearest whole number.
5. Record any observations which occur during reaction in table.
6. Rinse thermometer with deionised water.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 with solutions B,C and D.
8. Calculate temperature change for each solution and record in table.