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