Patterns Of Reactivity Flashcards
Where do metals react in the environment?
With substances eg air, water or acids.
Which gas in the air reacts with metals most easily?
Oxygen
What are reactive metals?
Metals that react quickly and easily.
What are unreactive metals?
Metals that do not react very easily or quickly.
Where are the most reactive metals found?
On the left hand side of the periodic table.
Where are less reactive meals found?
In the centre of the periodic table.
Which the most reactive gas in air?
Oxygen
Which gas is not very reactive?
Nitrogen
What happens when metals react with oxygen in the air?
They form oxides.
What is the word equation when metals form oxides?
Metal + oxygen ➡️ metal oxide
What do metals react quickly with if they react with air?
Water
What happens when metals react with water?
They form hydrogen gas and a metal hydroxide.
What is the word equation for metals reacting with water?
Metal + water ➡️ metal hydroxide + hydrogen
What do metals that react quickly with water also react quickly with?
Air and acid
Some metals that don’t react with water….
React with acid
What do metals produce when they react with acids?
Hydrogen and a salt
What is the word equation for metals and acids?
Metal + acid ➡️ salt + hydrogen.
Sulphuric acid makes…
Sulphates
Nitric acid makes…
Nitrates
Hydrochloric acid makes…
Chlorides
What is the reactivity series?
Metals can be placed into a reactivity series where the most reactive metals are placed at the top of the table. The reactivity series can also be used to predict whether reactions will occur.
Name the first 11 metals in the reactivity series
Potassium Sodium Calcium Magnesium Aluminium Zinc Iron Lead Copper Silver Gold
More reactive metals can…
Displace less reactive metals from their compounds.
What happens in a displacement reaction?
The more reactive reactive metal will steal the other metals compound to form it’s own compound, leaving the other metal as a pure element.
Example of a displacement reaction:
Iron + copper chloride ➡️ iron chloride + copper
What happens if you react zinc chloride and iron?
No reaction.
What can you use displacement reactions for? Give an example
To work out the order of the reactivity series. For example, zinc will displace lead from a compound, so we know that zinc is more reactive than lead.
Metals used for construction need…
A low reactivity or they would corrode away.
Aluminium has…
A natural protective oxide layer.
Iron has…
To be protected from corrosion eg by painting.
Low reactivity metals have…
Been known for thousands of years because they can be extracted by heating their compounds in a fire.
More reactive metals are discovered by…
Electrolysis. This means they have been discovered in the last 200 years, since the invention of the electric battery.
What is a very important property of metals?
Reactivity
What is aluminium used for?
It is used for aircraft as it is very lightweight. Also it had a protective oxide layer to stop corrosion.
What is bronze used for?
Sculptures. It has a low reactivity but would last for a long time. It is quite expensive but a cheaper metal like iron would rust easily. (Unless it is painted)
What is the word equation for acid and metal carbonate?
Acid + metal carbonate ➡️ salt + water + carbon dioxide.
What is iron used for?
For building structures. It isn’t light but doesn’t corrode which can make the structure expensive. Normally it is cheap to use though.
What is gold used for?
Gold is used for rings because it doesn’t corrode and also looks attractive. It is expensive because it is rare.
