Metals and reactivity series Flashcards
What is the reactivity series?
The reactivity series is a list of metals. At the top there is more reactive ones getting less reactive the further down you go.
How does it go?
Potassium Sodium Calcium Magnesium Aluminium Carbon Zinc Iron Tin Lead Hydrogen Copper Silver Gold Platinum
The reaction between Mg and water is slow. What could be used as a catalyst?
Steam
Some trends and patterns
In all of the above reactions potassium reacts the most and copper the least (if at all):
Mg burns with a bright white flame to give a white powder whereas Cu forms a black coating on its surface.
Na floats on H2O, melting, fizzing and producing an alkaline solution (NaOH) à litmus turns blue
Mg reacts slowly with cold H2O. Bubbles form on the surface of Mg. The Mg(OH)2 is sparingly soluble in H2O
Cu does not react with water.
Na reacts very vigorously with acids - dangerous reaction
Mg reacts quickly with acids such as sulphuric acid
Al only reacts with acid if the oxide layer is removed
What does OILRIG mean?
OIL - oxidisation - is the loss of electrons
RID - Reduction - the gain of electrons
These can both be described as “REDOX” reactions
