REACTIVITY SERIES
OBJECTIVE
S
METALS AND WATER
– GENERAL
EQUATION
When a metal reacts with
Potassium and sodium are metals that
water, the products are a metal react vigorously with water even when a
hydroxide and hydrogen gas. small amount of each metal is used
What is the general equation
for the reaction of a metal with
water?
EXAMPLES
Metals reacting with water
What are the products when each
metal reacts with water?
What is the balanced symbol
equation for each reaction?
Which of these metals is the most
reactive with water?
Which of these metals is the least
reactive with water?
REACTIVITY OF
OTHER METALS
WITH WATER
Copper is used in plumbing
and silver and gold in
jewellery.
Why are these unreactive
metals suitable for such uses?
PUT THE FOLLOWING METALS
IN ORDER OF REACTIVITY
BASED ON THEIR REACTION
WITH WATER, STARTING WITH
THE MOST REACTIVE:
copper, gold, magnesium,
lithium, potassium, silver,
sodium.
METALS AND
OXYGEN
Most metals will react with oxygen. Some metals react
faster than others and some may react very slowly or not at
When a metal does react with
oxygen, the product is a metal
all.
oxide. General equation:
EXAMPLES
Metals reacting with oxygen
What are the products when each
metal reacts with oxygen?
What is the balanced symbol equation
for each reaction?
Which of these metals is the most
reactive with oxygen?
Which of these metals is least reactive
with oxygen?
PUT THE FOLLOWING METALS
IN ORDER OF REACTIVITY
BASED ON THEIR REACTION
WITH OXYGEN, STARTING
WITH THE MOST REACTIVE:
copper, iron, magnesium.
the general equation for the reaction of a metal
with acid?
REACTION OF
METALS WITH
ACIDS
Gold is an unreactive metal that does not react with acid.
When a metal reacts with acid, the Other metals, such as magnesium and zinc, react with
products are a metal salt and hydrogen acid producing bubbles of gas.
How does the type of acid affect the type
of salt produced? The “squeaky pop” test shows that this gas is hydrogen
EXAMPLES
What is made when each metal
reacts with hydrochloric acid
What is the balanced symbol
equation for each reaction?
EXMAPLES
What is made when
each metal reacts
with sulfuric acid?
What is the balanced
symbol equation for
each reaction?
EXAMPLES
What is made when each
metal reacts with nitric
acid?
What is the balanced symbol
equation for each reaction?
METALS AND ACID
– ORDER OF
REACTIVITY
Put the following metals
in order of reactivity
based on their reaction
with acid, starting with
the most reactive:
aluminium, calcium,
copper, iron, lead,
magnesium, zinc.
Combining the information from all the reactions of metals
REACTIVITY with water, oxygen and air gives an overall order of
SERIES reactivity called the reactivity series.
When the orders of
reactivity of metals with
water, oxygen and air
are compared, there is
a pattern of results.
One way to remember this order is to learn this silly
REACTIVITY sentence
SERIES
The reactivity series
is the list of metals
placed in order of their
reactivity.
Predictions can be made about simple reactions of metals with
oxygen, water and acids.
Using the Predictions can also be made about more complex reactions
where one metal is competing with another.
reactivity series
The reactivity series potassium
can be used to make sodium
increasing reactivity
predictions about the calcium
reactions of metals. magnesium
aluminium
zinc
iron
lead
copper
silver
gold
If the metal is more reactive than the metal in the
DISPLACEMENT compound, it competes with the less reactive metal.
REACTION The more reactive metal pushes out, or displaces,
the less reactive metal from its compound.
The reactivity series can be
used to predict if a metal
will react with a metal
compound (e.g. chloride,
nitrate or sulfate). If the metal is less reactive than the metal in the compound,
it will not compete and so there is no reaction.
EXAMPLES OF
DISPLACEMENT
REACTION
PREDICTIONS
PREDICTIONS
ACTIVIT
Y
ACTIVITY
