Paper 1 - The Reactivity Series

Question 1

Different reactions with water (reactivity series)

Answer 1

Reacts quickly with cold water:
Potassium, sodium, calcium

Reacts very slow with water:
Magnesium

No reaction with water (higher reactivity) :
Aluminium

Reacts with steam :
Iron, zinc

Hydrogen

No reaction with water or steam:
Copper, silver, gold

Question 2

Unexpected / exceptions in reactive metals with water or acids

Answer 2

-aluminium has a layer of aluminium Oxide that stops water reaching the metal below.

-in the reaction of calcium with
dilute sulfuric acid, a layer of
insoluble calcium sulfate forms,
slowing the reaction.

-In the reaction of magnesium with
water, a layer of sparingly soluble
magnesium hydroxide forms, slowing the reaction
-Magnesium Reacts vigorously with steam :
Mg(s) + H2O(g) -> MgO(s) + H2(g)

Question 3

Metal reactions with acids (reactivity series)

Answer 3

Violent reaction - potassium, sodium, calcium (most reactive)

Reaction becoming less vigorous as reactivity decreases - magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron

(Hydrogen - not a metal)

No reaction with dilute acids - copper, silver, gold

Question 4

Note for the reactions of metals less reactive than hydrogen

Answer 4

Metals less reactive than hydrogen do not react with dilute acids or water - copper, silver, gold

Question 5

Metal reactions with water

Answer 5

Metal + water -> metal hydroxide + hydrogen
(Hydrogen produced)
-in general the more reactive the metal the greater rate of bubbling (effervescence)

Question 6

Metal reactions with acids

Answer 6

Metal + acid -> salt + hydrogen
(Hydrogen produced)
-rate of reaction greater in warm acid than in cold acid
-in general the more reactive a metal, the greater the rate of bubbling (effervescence) 🍾

Question 7

Reactivity series for memory

Answer 7

3 - potassium, sodium, calcium (alphabetical backwards)
4 - magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron
1 - hydrogen
3 - copper, silver, gold