New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Developing a reactivity series for metals

I can compare the reactions of different metals with water and dilute acids in order to work out the reactivity series for metals.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Developing a reactivity series for metals

I can compare the reactions of different metals with water and dilute acids in order to work out the reactivity series for metals.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A more reactive element will replace a less reactive element in a compound (displacement).
  2. The more easily a metal atom forms a positive ion, the more reactive it is.
  3. Some metals react with acid to produce a metal salt and hydrogen gas.
  4. Some metals react with water to produce a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
  5. Carbon is a non-metal element often included in the reactivity series between aluminium and zinc.

Common misconception

Thinking that a metal and acid react together to produce salt and water.

Use symbol equations to show how hydrogen is produced, rather than water, due to the absence of oxygen atoms.

Keywords

  • Ion - An ion is an atom or group of atoms with a positive or negative charge due to the loss or gain of electrons.

  • Salt - A salt is an ionic compound formed from positive and negative ions electrostatically attracted to each other.

  • Reactivity series - The reactivity series shows metals placed in order of reactivity with the most reactive metal at the top.

  • Displacement - Displacement is where a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive element in a compound.

Practical ideas include: demo of alkali metals and water, class practical reacting different metals with acid, and microscale displacement reactions.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why is the metal gold used to make jewellery?
it conducts electricity
it has a low melting point
Correct answer: it is unreactive
it is expensive
it is sonorous
Q2.
Metals lose electrons to form ions.
Correct Answer: positive
Q3.
When a metal reacts with an acid, one of the products is a salt. What is the other product?
oxygen
methane
Correct answer: hydrogen
carbon dioxide
Q4.
When magnesium reacts with nitric acid what is the name of the salt produced?
magnesium chloride
magnesium sulfate
Correct answer: magnesium nitrate
magnesium oxide
Q5.
Potassium, sodium and lithium are highly reactive metals. Which of the following statements about these metals are correct?
Correct answer: they are located in Group 1 of the periodic table of elements
they are located in Group 2 of the periodic table of elements
Correct answer: Group 1 metals get more reactive as you go down the group
Group 1 metals get less reactive as you go down the group
Q6.
Match the following keywords to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:atom,building block of all matter

building block of all matter

Correct Answer:ion,an atom, or group of atoms, with a positive or negative charge

an atom, or group of atoms, with a positive or negative charge

Correct Answer:inert,not chemically reactive

not chemically reactive

Correct Answer:displacement,a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive element

a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive element

Correct Answer:salt,ionic compound formed from positive and negative ions

ionic compound formed from positive and negative ions

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the name of the reaction where a more reactive element will take the place of a less reactive element in a compound?
Correct Answer: displacement
Q2.
Which of the following statements about the reaction shown are correct? calcium + iron sulfate → calcium sulfate + iron
it is an example of a combustion reaction
iron is more reactive than calcium
Correct answer: calcium is more reactive than iron
Correct answer: calcium displaces iron in the compound
iron displaces calcium in the compound
Q3.
Why is potassium more reactive than iron?
potassium more easily loses electrons to form negative ions
potassium more easily gains electrons to form negative ions
Correct answer: potassium more easily loses electrons to form positive ions
potassium more easily gains electrons to form positive ions
Q4.
The non–metal carbon is positioned between which two metals in the reactivity series?
Correct answer: aluminium
sodium
hydrogen
Correct answer: zinc
silver
Q5.
Which of the following substances are products of the reaction between zinc and hydrochloric acid?
oxygen
water
Correct answer: hydrogen
zinc hydroxide
Correct answer: zinc chloride
Q6.
Which of the following substances are products of the reaction between lithium and water?
lithium oxide
Correct answer: lithium hydroxide
lithum carbonate
oxygen
Correct answer: hydrogen