Topic 4 - Extracting Metals and Equilibria

Question 1

what is oxidation?

Answer 1

the reaction with or the addition of oxygen, oxidation can also be the loss of electrons.

Question 2

what is reduction?

Answer 2

the removal of oxygen or the gain of electrons

Question 3

are combustion reactions always endothermic or exothermic?

Answer 3

exothermic

Question 4

what is a type of reaction which involves oxidation?

Answer 4

combustion

Question 5

what does the reactivity series show about metals?

Answer 5

how easily metals are oxidised

Question 6

what is the reactivity series?

Answer 6

a table that lists metals in order of their reactivity

Question 7

what dictates how a metal is extracted from its ore?

Answer 7

a metal’s position in the reactivity series compared to carbon

Question 8

how does hydrogen show the reactivity of metals with dilute acids in the reactivity series?

Answer 8

if a metal is below hydrogen in the reactivity series, it’s less reactive than hydrogen and therefore won’t react with dilute acids

Question 9

what does hydrogen show about metals in the reactivity series?

Answer 9

the reactivity of metals with dilute acids

Question 10

what is the order of the reactivity series? (most reactive to least reactive.)

Answer 10

potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, carbon, zinc, iron, hydrogen, copper, silver, gold.

Question 11

what is the symbol for copper?

Answer 11

Cu

Question 12

what is the symbol for silver?

Answer 12

Ag

Question 13

what is the symbol for gold?

Answer 13

Au

Question 14

what is the pattern with resistance to oxidation in the reactivity series?

Answer 14

as reactivity increases, the resistance to oxidation decreases. the most reactive elements are the least resistant to oxidation and the least reactive elements are the most resistant to oxidation.

Question 15

why do metals at the top of the reactivity series corrode easily?

Answer 15

because metals at the top of the reactivity series are less resistant to oxidation.