Reactivity Series Flashcards
Reactivity Series
Potassium
Sodium
Lithium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Carbon
Zinc
Iron
Hydrogen
Copper
Silver
Gold
What are the non-metals in the reactivity series?
Carbon and hydrogen
What is predicted to react?
Anything above hydrogen
Does gold tarnish or oxidise?
No
What gas is formed when reactive metals are added to dilute acids?
Hydrogen
How to test for hydrogen?
Put a lit splint into the gas, hydrogen is very explosive, burning the oxygen, for a squeaky pop
How is the reactivity of metals determined?
Based on their reaction with water or dilute acid
What are the two products of a reaction between a reactive metals and a dilute acid?
Salt + Hydrogen
Where does the name of a salt come from?
The first part comes from the name of the metal
The second part comes from the acid used to make the salt
What does hydrochloric acid make?
A chloride
What does sulfuric acid make?
A sulphate (NOT A SULPHIDE)
What does nitric acid make?
A nitrate (NOT A NITRIDE)
Fair test
A fair test is one in which all other variables which could affect the outcome variable are kept constant so that we can conclude that only the change in the input variable caused the change in the outcome variable.
Test to test the order of reactivity of some metals:
Independent/Input Variable: metal types (Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Cu)
Dependent/Outcome Variable: volume of gas produced or temperature change, measured with a gas syringe (cm^3) or a thermometer (degrees Celsius) respectively.
Control variables: concentration of acid (affects the rate of reaction so you must use the same acid), volume of acid (affects the temperature change so you must measure the volume), the mass of metal (affects the temperature change so you must measure the mass of the metal)
Risks of testing metal reactivity with dilute acids test
- Broken glass - take care handling glassware, can cut
- Dilute acids are irritant - wear safety glasses, wash off skin immediately if it comes into contact with it
- Obey usual lab rules
Method of the metal reactivity with dilute acid experiment
- Measure 20cm^3 of acid into a boiling tube
- Measure temperature initially
- Add 1 small spatula of metal
- Record final temperature
- Record observations
- Repeat above procedure for different metals
Draw the apparatus for reactivity of metals with dilute acid experiment
N/a
How to improve the practical when repeating?
- repetition
- average
- more concentrated acid
- weigh the metal
- all metals are the same shape or form (eg. powder or blocks) due to surface area
Why does copper not react?
It is too unreactive
Why does aluminium not react?
Aluminium is highly reactive with oxygen in the air, hence it quickly forms a thin, protective oxide layer (Al(2)O(3)) on its surface, preventing a reaction with acid. A reaction would take place if there was no oxide layer.
How to test for hydrogen?
Place a lit splint over the test tube, and wait for a squeaky pop.
Why does hydrogen have a squeaky pop?
A squeaky pop is heard due to the fact that hydrogen burns quickly, reacting with oxygen in the air, producing the squeaky pop.
What is a common observation when metals react with dilute acid?
Effervescence (eg. fizzing or bubbling), metal dissolving, or even colour change
What would happen if solid zinc was added to copper (II) sulphate solution?
Word equation:
zinc (more reactive) + copper sulphate -> copper + zinc sulphate
Chemical equation:
Zn (s) + CuSO(4) (aq) -> Cu (s) + ZnSO(4) (aq)