The Chemistry Of Metals And The Reactivity Series Flashcards
Lithium’s appearance before reaction with water
Grey, dull solid
Soft + shiny when cut
Sodium’s appearance before reaction with water
Light grey, dull solid
Even softer and shinier when cut (more than lithium)
Potassium’s appearance before reaction with water
Dark grey, dull solid
Softest
Shiny when cut
Lithium’s observations for reaction with water
Floats and moves around
Effervesces
Eventually disappears
Turns UI purple
Sodium’s observations for reaction with water
Floats and moves around quickly
Effervesces
Melts and forms a sphere
Eventually disappears
Turns UI purple
Orange sparks
Potassium’s observations for reaction with water
Floats and moves around quickly
Melts and forms a sphere
Eventually disappears
Turns UI purple
Ignites with a lilac flame
Quick reaction
What is the pattern with Group 1 metals reacting with water?
They get more reactive as you go down group 1
Why are group 1 metals called alkali metals?
When they react with water they produce a metal hydroxide which is alkaline
Equation for Lithium & Water
Lithium + water —> lithium hydroxide + hydrogen
Equation for Sodium & Water
Sodium + water —> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen
Equation for Potassium & Water
Potassium + water —> potassium hydroxide + hydrogen
Hydrochloric Acid name when a salt (Magnesium)
(Magnesium) Chloride
Sulfuric Acid name when a salt (Magnesium)
(Magnesium) Sulfate
Nitric Acid name when a salt (Magnesium)
(Magnesium) Nitrate
What metals do not react with dilute acids?
Metals under hydrogen in the reactivity series
General Equation for Metals & Acids
Metal + Acid —> salt + hydrogen
How to test for hydrogen?
Lit splint —> squeaky pop
General Displacement Reaction equation
More reactive metal + less reactive metal compound —> more reactive metal compound + less reactive metal
Equation for thermite reaction
Aluminium + iron oxide —> iron + aluminium oxide
What type of reaction is the thermite reaction?
Displacement
What is the equation for rust?
Iron + oxygen —> (water) hydrated iron oxide
Examples of barrier methods
Paint, rubber, galvanisation, oiling
Example of sacrificial protection
Attaching big blocks of magnesium to the iron hull of a ship or water pipe so it corrodes in preference
What is galvanising
Physical barrier (zinc on top of iron)
Zinc is more reactive than iron so it corrodes in preference
