Metals and the Reactivity Series Flashcards
What is the order of the metals in the reactivity series? What are their symbols?
Potassium K
Sodium Na
Calcium Ca
Magnesium Mg
Aluminium Al
Zinc Zn
Iron Fe
Copper Cu
Where does Carbon go in the reactivity series?
Between Aluminium and Zinc.
What is the reaction of metals with cold water equation?
Metal + Water —> Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen
What metals react with water?
Potassium, Sodium, Calcium and Magnesium.
What two metals are stored under oil?
Potassium and Sodium.
What are the observations with sodium and water?
-Heat released
-Bubbles
-Floats about the surface
-Colourless solution formed
-Eventually disappears
-Melts into a tiny ball
What is the word and symbol equation between sodium and water?
Sodium + water —> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen
2Na + 2H2O —> 2NaOH + H2
What are the observations between potassium and water?
-Floats about the surface
-Heat released
-Bubbles
-Colourless solution formed
-Eventually disappears
-May explode
-Burns with a lilac flame
What happens when phenolphthalein is added to the water after the reactions of potassium and sodium with water? Why?
It will turn pink. To show that an alkali has been formed.
What is the word and symbol equation for the reaction between potassium and water?
Potassium + water —> Potassium hydroxide + hydrogen
2K + 2H2O —> 2KOH + H2
What are the observations between calcium and water?
Heat released
Calcium disappears
Bubbles of gas given off
Sinks the rises
Colourless solution formed with some white precipitate
When calcium reacts with water, why is the solution not fully colourless and has some white precipitate?
Because calcium hydroxide is only slightly soluble.
What is the word and symbol equation for calcium reacting with water?
Calcium + water —> calcium hydroxide + hydrogen
Ca + 2H2O —> Ca(OH)2 + H2
What happens when magnesium reacts with water?
A few bubbles of hydrogen gas produced over a long time.
What is the word and symbol equation for magnesium reacting with water?
Magnesium + water —> magnesium hydroxide + hydrogen
Mg + 2H2O —> Mg(OH)2 + H2
How do you test for hydrogen?
Add a lit/lighted splint and a squeaky pop sound is heard.
What metals react with steam?
Magnesium, Aluminium, Zinc and Iron.
When reacting metals with steam, why is the mineral wool dampened?
To generate the steam.
What are the observations when magnesium reacts with steam?
-Burns with a bright white light
-Heat released
-White solid remains
What is the word and symbol equation for magnesium reacting with steam?
Magnesium + steam —> magnesium oxide + hydrogen
Mg + H2O —> MgO + H2
What are the observations for aluminium reacting with steam?
-Heat released
-Powdered aluminium reacts to give a white solid
Why does aluminium foil not react with steam?
Because it is covered with a very unreactive layer of aluminium oxide.
What is the word and symbol equation for aluminium reacting with steam?
Aluminium + steam —> aluminium oxide + hydrogen
2Al + 3H2O —> Al2O3 + 3H2
What are the observations when zinc reacts with steam?
-Powdered zinc reacts to form a yellow solid and turns white when cooling
-Heat released
What is the word and symbol equation for zinc reacting with steam?
Zinc + steam —> zinc oxide + hydrogen
Zn + H2O —> ZnO + H2
What are the observations when iron reacts with steam?
-Powdered iron reacts to form a black solid
-Heat released
What is the word and symbol equation when iron reacts with steam?
Iron + steam —> iron oxide + hydrogen
3Fe + 4H2O —> Fe3O4 + 4H2
Does copper react with cold water or steam? If not, how is this a benefit?
It does not react. This is one of the reasons why copper is suitable for making water pipes for household plumbing.
When metals react with oxygen, is metal oxide the only product formed?
Yes!
What are the observations for potassium reacting with oxygen?
-Burns with a lilac flame
-Produces a white solid
What is the symbol and word equation for potassium and oxygen?
Potassium + oxygen — potassium oxide
4K + O2 —> 2KO2
What are the observations when sodium reacts with oxygen?
-Burns with a yellow flame
-Produces a white solid
What is the symbol and word equation when sodium reacts with oxygen?
4Na + O2 —> 2Na2O
What are the observations when calcium reacts with oxygen?
-Burns with a bright red flame
-Produces a white solid
What is the symbol and word equation when calcium reacts with oxygen?
2Ca + O2 —> 2CaO
What are the observations when magnesium reacts with oxygen?
-Burns with a bright white flame
-Produces a white solid
What is the symbol and word equation when magnesium reacts with oxygen?
Magnesium + oxygen —> magnesium oxide
2Mg + O2 —> 2 MgO
What are the observations when aluminium reacts with oxygen?
-Burns only when finely powdered producing a white solid
What is the symbol and word equation when aluminium reacts with oxygen?
Aluminium + oxygen —> aluminium oxide
4Al + 3O2 —> 2Al2O3
What are the observations when zinc reacts with oxygen?
-Burns producing a yellow solid which becomes white when cooling (powdered)
What is the symbol and word equation when zinc reacts with oxygen?
2Zn + O2 —> 2ZnO
What are the observations when iron reacts with oxygen?
-Iron filings burn with orange sparks
-Produces a black solid
When can you see the reaction between iron and oxygen?
When a sparkler is burnt.
What is the symbol and word equation when iron reacts with oxygen?
Iron + oxygen —> iron oxide
3Fe + 2O2 —> Fe3O4
What type of oxide is Fe3O4?
A mixed oxide.
What are the observations for copper reacting with oxygen?
-Red~brown copper turns red
-Burns with a blue~green flame
-Copper becomes covered with a black layer
What is the symbol and word equation when copper reacts with oxygen?
2Cu + O2 —> 2CuO
What happens when metals react?
They lose electrons to form positive ions.
Finish this sentence: more reactive metals have a greater tendency to…
lose electrons and form positive ions.
What is a displacement reaction?
A displacement reaction is a reaction in which a more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive metal in a compound.
What are the observations when zinc and copper (II) sulfate react?
-Blue colour of copper (II) sulfate eventually turns colourless
-Heat released
-Red~brown solid forms (copper)
What is an ore?
A rock that contains a metal compound from which the metal can be extracted.
Form potassium (K) down to aluminium (Al) in the reactivity series, what extraction method is used?
Electrolysis.
From zinc (Zn) to lead (Pb) in the reactivity series, what method of extraction is used?
By reduction with carbon or carbon monoxide.
From copper (Cu) to gold (Au) in the reactivity series, what method of extraction is used?
Found naturally as the element, uncombined in nature.
