Reactivity series

Question 1

What is the reactivity series?

Answer 1

A list of elements ordered by their reactivity

Question 2

How can metals be placed in order of their reactivity?

Answer 2

Add the metals to water or acid and see which ones react the most (by how much fizzing there is)

Question 3

What is the name for a reaction where oxygen is removed from a compound?

Answer 3

Reduction

Question 4

Explain why zinc can be extracted from zinc oxide with carbon but magnesium cannot be extracted from magnesium oxide with carbon

Answer 4

Magnesium is more reactive than carbon (1), Zinc is less reactive than carbon (1), Carbon can therefore remove oxygen from zinc oxide but not magnesium oxide (1)

Question 5

Explain why gold and silver can be found naturally in the Earth’s crust

Answer 5

It is very unreactive

Question 6

What process is used to extract metals more reactive than carbon

Answer 6

Electrolysis

Question 7

Define an ore

Answer 7

A material containing enough metal in it for it to be economically worthwhile to extract the metal.

Question 8

Define a displacement reaction

Answer 8

A reaction in which a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive element in one of its compounds or in solution

Question 9

Define oxidation in the context of loss and gain of electrons

Answer 9

Oxidation is the loss of electrons

Question 10

Define reduction in the context of loss and gain of electrons

Answer 10

Reduction is the gain of electrons

Question 11

Which of the substances below has been oxidized and which has been reduced? Al3+ + Fe gives Fe3+ + Al

Answer 11

Aluminium has been reduced and iron has been oxidised