chemical changes- c5

Question 1

What is the reactivity series?

Answer 1

The reactivity series lists metals in order of their reactivity towards other substances.

Question 2

How is reactivity determined?

Answer 2

For metals, their reactivity is determined by how easily they lose electrons- forming positive ions. The higher up the reactivity series a metal is, the more easily it will form positive ions.

Question 3

What happens when metals react with water or acid?

Answer 3

When metals react with water or acid, they lose electrons and form positive 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 from the most reactive to the least reactive, the order you get is the reactivity series.

Question 4

What are the metals in the reactivity series?

Answer 4

Potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, carbon, zinc, iron, hydrogen and copper

Question 5

Why are carbon and hydrogen included in the reactivity series?

Answer 5

Carbon and hydrogen are non metals, but they are included in the reactivity series, because this gives you information about how metals will react with them:

• Metals that are less reactive than carbon can be extracted from their ores by reduction with carbon. Metals that are more reactive than carbon cannot be extracted in this way.
• Metals that are more reactive than hydrogen will react with acids. Metals less reactive than hydrogen will not react with acids.

Question 6

reaction with acid and metals?

Answer 6

Acid+metals=salt+hydrogen
Some metals react with acids to produce a salt and hydrogen gas.
The speed of reaction is indicated by the rate at which the bubbles of hydrogen are given off.
The more reactive the metal, the faster the reaction will go. Very reactive metals like potassium, sodium, lithium and calcium react explosively, but less reactive metals such as magnesium, zinc and iron react less violently. In general, copper won’t react with cold, dilute acids.
You can use the burning splint test to confirm that hydrogen is formed in these reactions.