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Reactivity Series Flashcards

1
Q

What is the trend in reactivity of the reactivity series?

A

As you go down, the reactivity decreases

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2
Q

What is the reactivity series in order?

A

Potassium
Sodium
Lithium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Carbon
Zinc
Iron
Hydrogen
Copper
Silver
Gold

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3
Q

What gas is formed when reactive metals are added to dilute acids?

A

Hydrogen

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4
Q

How can you test for hydrogen gas?

A

Hold a lit splint in the gas and if hydrogen is present a squeaky pop will be heard

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5
Q

What is the chemical formula of hydrochloric acid?

A

HCl

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6
Q

What is the chemical formula of sulphuric acid?

A

H₂SO₄

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7
Q

How can one name salts produced from acids?

A

The first part of the name of the salt comes from the name of the metal.
The second part of the name of the salt comes from the acid used to make the salt

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8
Q

What is the chemical formula of nitric acid?

A

HNO₃

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9
Q

What would hydrochloric acid make when reacted with a metal?

A

Chloride

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10
Q

What would sulphuric acid make when reacted with a metal?

A

Sulphate

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11
Q

What would nitric acid make when reacted with a metal?

A

Nitrate

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12
Q

When conducting an experiment to determine the order of reactivity of a group of metals, what would the independent variable be?

A

Type of metal

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13
Q

When conducting an experiment to determine the order of reactivity of a group of metals, what would the dependent variable be?

A

Volume of hydrogen gas produced in a set variable for time or the temperature change (higher temp change results in more hydrogen gas produced)

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14
Q

When conducting an experiment to determine the order of reactivity of a group of metals, how could one measure the dependent variable?

A

By using a gas syringe (cm3) or a thermometer

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15
Q

When conducting an experiment to determine the order of reactivity of a group of metals, what would the control variables be?

A

Concentration of acid, volume of acid, mass of metal (g)

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16
Q

When conducting an experiment to determine the order of reactivity of a group of metals, what would the method be?

A
  1. Measure 20 cm3 of acid into the boiling tube
  2. Measure the temperature of the acid
  3. Add 5g of the metal powder
  4. Record the temperature and observations
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17
Q

Why doesn’t aluminium react with a dilute acid?

A

Aluminium has a protective oxide layer that prevents the acid from reaching the pure aluminium.

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18
Q

Why doesn’t copper react with a dilute acid?

A

Copper is too unreactive

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19
Q

What is a displacement reaction?

A

A reaction where a more reactive element replaces a less reactive element in a compound

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20
Q

What happens when magnesium metal is added to copper(II) sulfate solution?

A

Magnesium displaces copper; the blue solution turns colourless and reddish-brown copper forms

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21
Q

What happens when magnesium metal is added to zinc sulfate solution?

A

Magnesium displaces zinc; no colour change is seen

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22
Q

What happens when magnesium metal is added to iron(II) sulfate solution?

A

Magnesium displaces iron; the pale green solution fades and grey iron forms

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23
Q

What happens when zinc metal is added to copper(II) sulfate solution?

A

Zinc displaces copper; the blue solution turns colourless and reddish-brown copper forms

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24
Q

What happens when zinc metal is added to iron(II) sulfate solution?

A

Zinc displaces iron; the green solution fades and grey iron forms

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25
What happens when zinc metal is added to magnesium sulfate solution?
No reaction occurs; zinc is less reactive than magnesium
26
What happens when iron metal is added to copper(II) sulfate solution?
Iron displaces copper; the blue solution turns green or colourless and reddish-brown copper forms
27
What happens when iron metal is added to zinc sulfate solution?
No reaction occurs; iron is less reactive than zinc
28
What happens when iron metal is added to magnesium sulfate solution?
No reaction occurs; iron is less reactive than magnesium
29
What happens when copper metal is added to magnesium sulfate, zinc sulfate or iron(II) sulfate?
No reaction occurs; copper is less reactive than all of them
30
Why is there no reaction between magnesium and magnesium sulphate?
Metals don't displace each other
31
What is oxidation?
A reaction where oxygen is gained (electrons are lost)
32
What is reduction?
A reaction where oxygen is lost (electrons are gained)
33
What is a redox reaction?
A reaction where oxidation and reduction occur
34
What is observed when aluminium reacts with iron oxide?
A very bright light Iron becomes molten Lots of heat is given out Large explosion
35
What is the name of the reaction where aluminium reacts with iron oxide?
The Thermite reaction
36
What is the thermite reaction used for?
Welding railway and tram tracks together
37
What is an exothermic reaction?
A reaction where heat is given out (surroundings gain thermal energy)
38
What is an endothermic reaction?
A reaction where heat is taken in (surroundings lose thermal energy)
39
Is the thermite reaction an endothermic or exothermic reaction?
Exothermic
40
Why is the thermite reaction a redox reaction?
The thermite reaction is a redox reaction because aluminium loses electrons (oxidation) and iron(III) oxide gains electrons (reduction)
41
What would happen is you heated iron metal with aluminium oxide
No reaction as aluminium is the more reactive metal and is already in a compound
42
A reducing agent causes another substance to be reduced. In the process what happens to it?
It is oxidised
43
An oxidising agent causes another substance to be oxidised. In the process what happens to it?
It is reduced
44
What is an ore?
A rock that contains a metal compound
45
What can be done to obtain a pure metal if the metal is more reactive than carbon
Electrolysis can be used
46
What happens to a nail in water?
Orange/brown rust forms.
47
What happens to a nail with a drying agent?
The water remains clear. No rust forms.
48
What happens to a nail in boiled water and oil?
The water remains clear. No rust forms. A layer disappears.
49
What happens to a nail wrapped in moist cotton?
The water remains clear. No rust forms. A layer disappears.
50
In an experiment to test for the presence of rust in iron, how would a drying agent affect rust?
Rust wouldn't be present as the drying agent removes the water
51
In an experiment to test for the presence of rust in iron, how would boiled water and a top layer of oil affect rust?
No rust would be present as the boiled water doesn't have oxygen and the oil would prevent oxygen from being re-dissolved into the water
52
When a more reactive metal is loosely wrapped around the iron, which will rust first?
The more reactive metal
53
What conditions are required for rusting?
Iron, water and oxygen
54
Why is rusting a problem?
It makes the iron brittle, so it is not durable
55
What methods can be used to prevent rusting?
Protection by physical barrier Sacrificial protection Galvanising
56
What is protection by physical barrier?
When something is applied to the iron to prevent oxygen and/or water accessing the iron
57
What substances can be used for protection by physical barrier?
Paint, oil, grease, plastic coating, tin planting or electroplanting
58
What is electroplanting?
Using electricity to place a thin coating of meal on the iron
59
What is an advantage of protection by physical barrier?
It is cheap
60
What is the main con of protection by a physical barrier?
If the coating isn't maintained (e.g becomes scratched) the air and water will be able to get to the iron and cause rusting
61
What is sacrificial protection?
When a more reactive metal is loosely wrapped around the iron so that the metal corrodes and prevents the iron from rusting
62
What is an advantage of sacrificial protection?
It can be used on things like railways where a physical barrier would be scraped easily from the friction of the train
63
What is the main con of protection by sacrificial protection?
Over time the more reactive metal will be used up and if not replenished the iron will also rust
64
What is galvanising?
When iron gets a coating of zinc. The zinc uses protection by physical barrier to prevent the iron from gaining access to oxygen and air, but if the zinc is scratched it will use sacrificial protection as zinc is more reactive
65
What is the difference between corrosion and rusting?
Corrosion is when metals are worn out but rust is when iron wears out
66
What effect does salt used on roads in winter have on rusting in cars?
Salt speeds up the rusting process
67
Where could galvanising be used? (Give 2 answers)
Girders for bridges, car body panels

GCSE Chemistry (10 decks)

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