Metals and the Reactivity Series

Question 1

What is the order of the metals in the reactivity series? What are their symbols?

Answer 1

Potassium K
Sodium Na
Calcium Ca
Magnesium Mg
Aluminium Al
Zinc Zn
Iron Fe
Copper Cu

Question 2

Where does Carbon go in the reactivity series?

Answer 2

Between Aluminium and Zinc.

Question 3

What is the reaction of metals with cold water equation?

Answer 3

Metal + Water —> Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen

Question 4

What metals react with water?

Answer 4

Potassium, Sodium, Calcium and Magnesium.

Question 5

What two metals are stored under oil?

Answer 5

Potassium and Sodium.

Question 6

What are the observations with sodium and water?

Answer 6

-Heat released
-Bubbles
-Floats about the surface
-Colourless solution formed
-Eventually disappears
-Melts into a tiny ball

Question 7

What is the word and symbol equation between sodium and water?

Answer 7

Sodium + water —> sodium hydroxide + hydrogen
2Na + 2H2O —> 2NaOH + H2

Question 8

What are the observations between potassium and water?

Answer 8

-Floats about the surface
-Heat released
-Bubbles
-Colourless solution formed
-Eventually disappears
-May explode
-Burns with a lilac flame

Question 9

What happens when phenolphthalein is added to the water after the reactions of potassium and sodium with water? Why?

Answer 9

It will turn pink. To show that an alkali has been formed.

Question 10

What is the word and symbol equation for the reaction between potassium and water?

Answer 10

Potassium + water —> Potassium hydroxide + hydrogen
2K + 2H2O —> 2KOH + H2

Question 11

What are the observations between calcium and water?

Answer 11

Heat released
Calcium disappears
Bubbles of gas given off
Sinks the rises
Colourless solution formed with some white precipitate

Question 12

When calcium reacts with water, why is the solution not fully colourless and has some white precipitate?

Answer 12

Because calcium hydroxide is only slightly soluble.

Question 13

What is the word and symbol equation for calcium reacting with water?

Answer 13

Calcium + water —> calcium hydroxide + hydrogen
Ca + 2H2O —> Ca(OH)2 + H2

Question 14

What happens when magnesium reacts with water?

Answer 14

A few bubbles of hydrogen gas produced over a long time.

Question 15

What is the word and symbol equation for magnesium reacting with water?

Answer 15

Magnesium + water —> magnesium hydroxide + hydrogen
Mg + 2H2O —> Mg(OH)2 + H2

Question 16

How do you test for hydrogen?

Answer 16

Add a lit/lighted splint and a squeaky pop sound is heard.

Question 17

What metals react with steam?

Answer 17

Magnesium, Aluminium, Zinc and Iron.

Question 18

When reacting metals with steam, why is the mineral wool dampened?

Answer 18

To generate the steam.

Question 19

What are the observations when magnesium reacts with steam?

Answer 19

-Burns with a bright white light
-Heat released
-White solid remains

Question 20

What is the word and symbol equation for magnesium reacting with steam?

Answer 20

Magnesium + steam —> magnesium oxide + hydrogen
Mg + H2O —> MgO + H2

Question 21

What are the observations for aluminium reacting with steam?

Answer 21

-Heat released
-Powdered aluminium reacts to give a white solid

Question 22

Why does aluminium foil not react with steam?

Answer 22

Because it is covered with a very unreactive layer of aluminium oxide.

Question 23

What is the word and symbol equation for aluminium reacting with steam?

Answer 23

Aluminium + steam —> aluminium oxide + hydrogen
2Al + 3H2O —> Al2O3 + 3H2

Question 24

What are the observations when zinc reacts with steam?

Answer 24

-Powdered zinc reacts to form a yellow solid and turns white when cooling
-Heat released

Question 25

What is the word and symbol equation for zinc reacting with steam?

Answer 25

Zinc + steam —> zinc oxide + hydrogen Zn + H2O —> ZnO + H2

Question 26

What are the observations when iron reacts with steam?

Answer 26

-Powdered iron reacts to form a black solid -Heat released

Question 27

What is the word and symbol equation when iron reacts with steam?

Answer 27

Iron + steam —> iron oxide + hydrogen 3Fe + 4H2O —> Fe3O4 + 4H2

Question 28

Does copper react with cold water or steam? If not, how is this a benefit?

Answer 28

It does not react. This is one of the reasons why copper is suitable for making water pipes for household plumbing.

Question 29

When metals react with oxygen, is metal oxide the only product formed?

Answer 29

Yes!

Question 30

What are the observations for potassium reacting with oxygen?

Answer 30

-Burns with a lilac flame -Produces a white solid

Question 31

What is the symbol and word equation for potassium and oxygen?

Answer 31

Potassium + oxygen — potassium oxide 4K + O2 —> 2KO2

Question 32

What are the observations when sodium reacts with oxygen?

Answer 32

-Burns with a yellow flame -Produces a white solid

Question 33

What is the symbol and word equation when sodium reacts with oxygen?

Answer 33

4Na + O2 —> 2Na2O

Question 34

What are the observations when calcium reacts with oxygen?

Answer 34

-Burns with a bright red flame -Produces a white solid

Question 35

What is the symbol and word equation when calcium reacts with oxygen?

Answer 35

2Ca + O2 —> 2CaO

Question 36

What are the observations when magnesium reacts with oxygen?

Answer 36

-Burns with a bright white flame -Produces a white solid

Question 37

What is the symbol and word equation when magnesium reacts with oxygen?

Answer 37

Magnesium + oxygen —> magnesium oxide 2Mg + O2 —> 2 MgO

Question 38

What are the observations when aluminium reacts with oxygen?

Answer 38

-Burns only when finely powdered producing a white solid

Question 39

What is the symbol and word equation when aluminium reacts with oxygen?

Answer 39

Aluminium + oxygen —> aluminium oxide 4Al + 3O2 —> 2Al2O3

Question 40

What are the observations when zinc reacts with oxygen?

Answer 40

-Burns producing a yellow solid which becomes white when cooling (powdered)

Question 41

What is the symbol and word equation when zinc reacts with oxygen?

Answer 41

2Zn + O2 —> 2ZnO

Question 42

What are the observations when iron reacts with oxygen?

Answer 42

-Iron filings burn with orange sparks -Produces a black solid

Question 43

When can you see the reaction between iron and oxygen?

Answer 43

When a sparkler is burnt.

Question 44

What is the symbol and word equation when iron reacts with oxygen?

Answer 44

Iron + oxygen —> iron oxide 3Fe + 2O2 —> Fe3O4

Question 45

What type of oxide is Fe3O4?

Answer 45

A mixed oxide.

Question 46

What are the observations for copper reacting with oxygen?

Answer 46

-Red~brown copper turns red -Burns with a blue~green flame -Copper becomes covered with a black layer

Question 47

What is the symbol and word equation when copper reacts with oxygen?

Answer 47

2Cu + O2 —> 2CuO

Question 48

What happens when metals react?

Answer 48

They lose electrons to form positive ions.

Question 49

Finish this sentence: more reactive metals have a greater tendency to…

Answer 49

lose electrons and form positive ions.

Question 50

What is a displacement reaction?

Answer 50

A displacement reaction is a reaction in which a more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive metal in a compound.

Question 51

What are the observations when zinc and copper (II) sulfate react?

Answer 51

-Blue colour of copper (II) sulfate eventually turns colourless -Heat released -Red~brown solid forms (copper)

Question 52

What is an ore?

Answer 52

A rock that contains a metal compound from which the metal can be extracted.

Question 53

Form potassium (K) down to aluminium (Al) in the reactivity series, what extraction method is used?

Answer 53

Electrolysis.

Question 54

From zinc (Zn) to lead (Pb) in the reactivity series, what method of extraction is used?

Answer 54

By reduction with carbon or carbon monoxide.

Question 55

From copper (Cu) to gold (Au) in the reactivity series, what method of extraction is used?

Answer 55

Found naturally as the element, uncombined in nature.