The reactivity series

Question 1

The reactivity series lists metals in order of their reactivity toward other substances. For metals, how is their reactivity determined ?

Answer 1

How easily they lose electrons - forming + ions. The higher up the reactivity series a metal is, the more easily they from + ions

Question 2

When metals react with water or acid, they …

Answer 2

lose electrons and form + ions so the higher a metal is in the reactivity series, the more easily it reacts with water or acid

If you compare the relative reactivity of different metals with either an acid or water and put them in order of most reactive to least reactive, the order you get is the reactivity series.

Question 3

The reactivity series

Answer 3

K
Na
Li
Ca
Mg
C
Zn
Fe
H
Cu

Question 4

Some metals react with acid to produce
(a) salt hydroxide + water
(B) salt + hydrogen (gas)

Answer 4

B

1) The speed of reaction is indicated by the rate at which bubbles of hydrogen are given off

2) The more reactive a metal, the faster the reaction will do. Very reactive metals like potassium, Na, Li and Ca react explosively but less reactive metals like Mg , Zn, Fe react less violently . In general Copper does not react with cold, dilute acids.

3) See page 132

You can also investigate the reactivity of metals by measuring temp change of the reaction with an acid or water over a set time period. If you use same mass and SA of metals each time, then the more reactive the metal, the greater the temperature change should be

Question 5

Metals also react with water

Answer 5

Metal + water -> metal hydroxide + hydrogen

1) Na, Li, Ca all react with water
2) Zn , Fe, Cu won’t react with water