Reactivity Of Metals

Question 1

What is the reactivity of a metal linked to?

Answer 1

Reactivity is linked to an atoms readiness to lose electrons+ become an ion (how easily it can lose the electron)

Question 2

What determines reactivity?

Answer 2

The more readily the atom loses its outer electron= the more reactive it is

Question 3

How do more reactive metals impact a solution?

Answer 3

More reactive metals are able to displace less reactive ones from solutions

Question 4

What are three ways that we can see evidence of a reaction?

Answer 4

• colour change
• temperature change
• bubbles of gas given off

Question 5

What is the reactivity order of

Sodium, potassium, lithium, iron, magnesium, calcium

Hint: PSLCMI

Answer 5

• Potassium
• Sodium
• Lithium
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Iron

Question 6

What elements does magnesium displace in the displacement reaction experiment? (3 points)

Answer 6

• magnesium displaces iron
• magnesium displaces copper
• magnesium displaces zinc

Question 7

What elements does zinc displace in the displacement reaction experiment? (2 points)

Answer 7

• zinc displaces iron
• zinc displaces copper

Question 8

What does iron displace in the displacement experiment reaction? (1 point)

Answer 8

• iron displaces copper

Question 9

What are the three steps for writing the ionic equation for a reaction? (3 points)

Answer 9

1- write out the equation to show all the ions involved (use periodic table to work out the ions aka: 1+ .
, 2+)

2- identify ions that don’t gain/lose electrons and cross them out (spectator ions)

3- rewrite equation without the spectator ions

Question 10

Copper is very unreactive but what are the two elements it’s more reactive than?

Answer 10

• silver
• gold

Question 11

Why are metals that are more reactive higher in the metal reactivity series?

Answer 11

This is because the metals that are more reactive become ions, lose their electron more easily

Question 12

Where is CARBON in the reactivity series?

Answer 12

Below Aluminium and above zinc

Question 13

Where is hydrogen in the reactivity series?

Answer 13

Above copper and below lead

Question 14

What does the position of carbon in the reactivity series help us understand?

Answer 14

The position of carbon helps us understand why it is able to reduce SOME metal oxides but not others

Question 15

What does the position of hydrogen in the reactivity series help us understand?

Answer 15

Helps us understand why some metals can dissolve hydrogen to successfully react with acids whilst others can’t

Question 16

Describe what reactions you would carry out to be able to place a metal in its right place in the reactivity series (3 points)

Answer 16

• you would use pieces of the metal and put them into solutions (whether chloride, sulphate or nitrate) of magnesium, zinc, iron, copper
• observe and see if there is any displacement reactions
• the metal will go above any metal it displaces and below any it is unable to displace