5.1 The Reactivity Series

Metals are important in everyday life. In [blank_start]transport[blank_end], metals are used to make bicycles, cars, ships, trains, and aeroplanes. Metals have to be extracted from their raw materials, [blank_start]ores[blank_end].

Most metals in ores are [blank_start]chemically[blank_end] bonded to other elements in compounds. Many of these metals have been [blank_start]oxidised[blank_end] by air to form their [blank_start]oxides[blank_end]. Oxidation is the [blank_start]addition[blank_end] of oxygen, and involves a [blank_start]loss[blank_end] of electrons.

Which of these statements are true?

The reactivity series is a list of metals in order of their reactivity. The [blank_start]most[blank_end] reactive metals are at the top and the [blank_start]least[blank_end] reactive at the bottom. [blank_start]Potassium[blank_end] is at the top and [blank_start]gold[blank_end] is at the bottom.

Most metals react vigorously with water.

[blank_start]Copper[blank_end] doesn't react at all with water, and so can be used to make water pipes. [blank_start]Lead[blank_end] used to be used, until it was discovered that it was [blank_start]poisonous[blank_end]. Alkali metals react vigorously and give off [blank_start]hydrogen[blank_end] gas, leaving [blank_start]alkaline[blank_end] solutions.

This is the order of reactivity: 1) [blank_start]Potassium[blank_end] 2) [blank_start]sodium[blank_end] 3) [blank_start]lithium[blank_end] 4) [blank_start]calcium[blank_end] 5) [blank_start]magnesium[blank_end] 6) [blank_start]aluminium[blank_end] 7) [blank_start]zinc[blank_end] 8) [blank_start]iron[blank_end] 9) [blank_start]tin[blank_end] 10) [blank_start]lead[blank_end] 11) [blank_start]copper[blank_end] 12) [blank_start]silver[blank_end] 13) [blank_start]gold[blank_end]

What gas is present when a metal reacts with water? How do you know?

3 ways to know if a reaction has taken place: 1) a [blank_start]gas[blank_end] has formed - we know a [blank_start]gas[blank_end] has formed usually if there is bubbles. 2) a [blank_start]colour[blank_end] change in the solution 3) there is an [blank_start]odour[blank_end].

hydrogen gas is given off if metals react with water/dilute acids.

The equation used to show a metal reacting with water is: - [blank_start]Metal[blank_end] + [blank_start]water[blank_end] → [blank_start]metal[blank_end] [blank_start]hydroxide[blank_end] + [blank_start]hydrogen[blank_end]