Metals and Reactivity Series Flashcards
What is the order of reactivity for metals?
Potassium
Sodium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Zinc
Iron
Copper
Why is potassium more reactive than sodium?
It has a tendency to lose its outer electron easier compared to sodium, due to its bigger atomic radius.
What is the general word equation for the reaction of metals with cold water?
Metal + Water > Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen
Does sodium, potassium or calcium float or sink when reacted with cold water?
Sodium - Floats
Potassium - Floats
Calcium - Sinks then floats
Is there any energy change when sodium, potassium and calcium is reacted with cold water?
Sodium - Yes
Potassium - Yes
Calcium - Yes
Does sodium, potassium or calcium give a gas off when reacted with cold water?
Sodium - Yes (H2)
Potassium - Yes (H2)
Calcium - Yes (H2)
Does sodium, potassium or calcium produce a flame when reacted with cold water?
Sodium - Yes (orange)
Potassium - Yes (lilac)
Calcium - No
Does sodium, potassium or calcium change colour in universal indicator after being reacted with cold water?
Sodium - Yes (blue)
Potassium - Yes (blue)
Calcium - Yes (blue)
What are the safety precautions taken in this experiment?
Use safety screen.
Wear gloves.
Wear goggles.
Use heat proof mat.
Use large volume of water.
Use tweezers.
Use small amount of metal.
How do you test for the hydrogen gas given off?
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.
What are the observations of the reaction of sodium with cold water?
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
What are the observations of the reaction of potassium with cold water?
Spins across the surface
Burns with a lilac flame
Effervescence/fizzing
Metal disappears
Colourless alkaline solution forms
Heat given out
What are the observations of the reaction of calcium with cold water?
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
What is the equation for reactions with steam?
Metal + steam > metal oxide + hydrogen
What metals can react with steam?
Magnesium
Aluminium
Zinc
Iron
What are the observations of the reaction of magnesium with steam?
Bright white light
White solid formed
Heat given out
What is the word and symbol equation for the reaction of magnesium with steam?
Magnesium + steam > magnesium oxide + hydrogen
Mg(s) + H2O(g) > MgO(s) + H2(g)
What are the observations of the reaction of aluminium with steam?
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.
What is the word and symbol equation of the reaction of aluminium with steam?
Aluminium + steam > aluminium oxide + hydrogen
2Al(s) + 3H2O(g) > Al2O3(s) + 3H2(g)
What are the observations of the reaction of zinc with steam?
Powdered zinc reacts to form a yellow solid ( changes to white on cooling)
Heat is given out
What is the word and symbol equation for the reaction of zinc with steam?
Zinc + steam > zinc oxide + hydrogen
Zn(s) + H2O(g) > ZnO(s) + H2(g)
What are the observations of the reaction of iron with steam?
Powdered iron reacts to form a black solid
What is the word and symbol equation for the reaction of iron with steam?
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
What is investigated in the reaction of magnesium with oxygen?
Appearance before burning: silver
Appearance after burning: white (bright white light produced)
Colour of universal indicator: dark green
