Reactivity Series of Metals Flashcards
Reactivity series
Placing metals in order of high vigorously they react
How can we place metals in the reactivity series?
by observing and recording how different metals react in:
- oxygen 💨
- water 💧
- with other metal salt solutions 🪙🧂
Oxygen concentration in air
20%
Another word for burning
Combustion
Apparatus for reactions of metals in oxygen
- crucible lid
- crucible🪣
- metal🪙
- pipe clay triangle 🥣⚠️
- tripod⚠️ 🎧
- heat 🔥
- heat-proof mat 🚫 🔥
Does iron reacts with oxygen?
Yes
Observations, iron reacting in oxygen
Grey wool burns with orange Sparks, black solid forms
Does zinc react with oxygen?
Yes
Zinc reacting with oxygen observations
Grey solid burns, yellow solid forms turns white when cool
Does copper react with oxygen?
Yes
Copper reacting with oxygen observations
- Red brown solid glows red
- black layer forms
Does magnesium react with oxygen?
Yes
Magnesium reacting in oxygen observations
- Grey solid
- burns with bright white light
- white ash forms 
Does aluminium react with oxygen?
Yes
Aluminium reacting with oxygen observations
Sheets of aluminium do not burn easily, however, powdered aluminium Burns white solid forms
Do sheets of aluminium burn
Not easily
What form of aluminium is used when reacting with oxygen?
Powdered aluminium
Does calcium reacts with oxygen?
Yes
Calcium reacting with oxygen observations
- Grey solid
- burns with brick red flame
- white solid forms
Which metal reacts fastest with oxygen?
Magnesium
Which metal is hardly react with oxygen?
- Zinc
- aluminium
- copper
Is experiment, “reacting with oxygen” a good experiment to determine order of reactivity?
No
Why are sodium and potassium, only heated in air using strict safety precaution during experiment, metals reacting with oxygen?
⬆️ dangerous ⬆️
General equation for metal burning in oxygen
Metal ➕ oxygen ➡️ metal oxide
Why do metals gain mass when reacting with oxygen?
They form an oxide
How would you ensure all metal has reacted in experiment, “metal burning in oxygen”?
Heat to constant mass
Metals which react easily with cold water
- potassium
- sodium
Method of reacting K and Na with cold water
- place small piece of metal in water
- note all observations
- test solution with pH paper
Observations for Na (sodium) reacting with cold water
- Floats on surface
- metal melts and forms a silvery ball
- moves around surface of water
- gives off a gas/fizzes
- heat is released
- disappears and forms a colourless solution
Observations for K (potassium) reacting with cold water
- Burns with a lilac flame
- floats on surface
- metal melts and forms a silvery ball
- moves around surface of water
- gives off a gas/fizzes
- heat is released
- disappears and forms a colourless solution
colour of pH of resulting solutions of Na and K reacting with cold water
Blue/ purple
What metal reacts the fastest with cold water out of Na and K
Potassium
pH of resulting solutions of Na and K reacting with cold water
12 - 14
Why are Na and K stored in oil?
To prevent reaction with moisture and oxygen in the air
Cutting Na and K
- soft - easily cut
- shiny when freshly cut
- tarnish rapidly in air
