Key Notes for Stage 9 Cambridge Science Chapter: Reactivity
What is the Reactivity Series?
A list of metals (and sometimes non-metals like carbon and hydrogen) arranged in
order of their reactivity.
Most reactive metals are at the top, least reactive at the bottom.
Helps predict how metals will react in chemical reactions.
The series is based on experimental observations of how metals react with water,
acids, and oxygen.
Reactivity of Metals
Reaction with Water:
o Some metals react with cold water to produce metal hydroxide and hydrogen
gas (e.g., potassium, sodium, calcium).
These reactions can be very vigorous, especially with potassium and
sodium.
Example: 2K(s) + 2H₂O(l) → 2KOH(aq) + H₂(g)
o Some metals react with steam to produce metal oxide and hydrogen gas (e.g.,
magnesium, zinc, iron).
For example: Mg(s) + H₂O(g) → MgO(s) + H₂(g)
o Less reactive metals (e.g., copper, silver, gold) do not react with water or
steam.
Reaction with Acids:
o Metals react with acids to produce a salt and hydrogen gas.
o The higher the metal is in the reactivity series, the more vigorous the reaction.
For example, magnesium reacts more vigorously with hydrochloric
acid than zinc does.
Example: Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl₂(aq) + H₂(g)
o Metals below hydrogen in the series do not react with acids.
For example, copper does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid.
Reaction with Oxygen:
o Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides.
o Reactive metals like potassium and sodium react very quickly.
They can even ignite in air.
Example: 4Na(s) + O₂(g) → 2Na₂O(s)
o Less reactive metals like copper and iron react slowly.
Iron requires heating to react with oxygen (rusting is a slow reaction
with oxygen and water).
Example: 2Fe(s) + O₂(g) → 2FeO(s) (simplified)
o Gold does not react with oxygen.
Displacement Reactions
A more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from its compound.
For example, zinc will displace copper from copper sulfate solution:
o Zinc + Copper Sulfate → Zinc Sulfate + Copper
o Zn(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → ZnSO₄(aq) + Cu(s)
This happens because the more reactive metal forms ions more easily.
o The more reactive metal has a greater tendency to lose electrons and form
positive ions.
Uses of the Reactivity Series
Predicting whether a metal will react with water, acid, or oxygen.
Determining if a displacement reaction will occur.
Extracting metals from their ores (more reactive metals can displace less reactive
ones).
o For example, iron is extracted from its ore using carbon in a blast furnace.
Fe₂O₃(s) + 3C(s) → 2Fe(l) + 3CO₂(g)
Understanding corrosion:
o More reactive metals corrode more easily.
o Sacrificial protection: A more reactive metal is used to protect a less reactive
one.
For example, zinc is used to protect iron in galvanized steel.
Factors Affecting Reactivity
Ionization Energy: Metals with lower ionization energies lose electrons more easily,
making them more reactive.
Atomic Radius: Larger atomic radii generally mean that the outermost electrons are
less tightly held, leading to higher reactivity.
Electronegativity: Metals with lower electronegativity have a lower tendency to
attract electrons, making them more likely to lose electrons and thus be more reactive.
Important Points to Remember
The reactivity of a metal is related to its tendency to form positive ions.
o The easier it is for a metal to lose electrons, the more reactive it is.
Hydrogen and carbon are included in the reactivity series because they are used in
industrial processes involving metals.
o Carbon is used as a reducing agent in the extraction of some metals.
o Hydrogen's position helps determine which metals can displace it from acids.
Be able to identify common metals in the reactivity series and their relative reactivity.
Be able to predict products of reactions between metals and water, acids, and oxygen.
Be able to write balanced chemical equations for these reactions.