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Year 9

The reactivity series for metals

I can use experimental evidence to organise several metals in order of their reactivity.

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New
New
Year 9

The reactivity series for metals

I can use experimental evidence to organise several metals in order of their reactivity.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Some metals react with acid to produce a metal salt and hydrogen gas.
  2. Some metals react with water to produce a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
  3. Some metals react with oxygen to form a metal oxide.
  4. The reactivity series for metals shows how vigorously metals react, compared to each other.
  5. The higher the position of a metal in the reactivity series, the more vigorously it is likely to react.

Common misconception

The reactant disappears during the reaction. Acids and metals react because the acid eats away the metal.

Use word and symbol equations to reinforce the idea that during the reaction new chemicals are produced from the reactants. Demonstrate that metals less reactive than hydrogen will not react with acid.

Keywords

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

  • Effervescence - When bubbles of gas are produced in a liquid; another way of saying a liquid is fizzing.

  • Exothermic - A type of reaction in which energy is transferred from the reactants to the surroundings e.g. combustion.

To show how the reactivity of metals changes, demonstrate the reaction of the alkali metals with air and water. Ask your students to investigate the reactivity of metals such as magnesium, zinc, iron, copper with a dilute acid.
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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
If we have a hypothesis, or if we have some experimental evidence showing a pattern, we may be able to what will happen in our next investigation.
Correct Answer: predict, make a prediction about
Q2.
Which of the following properties are most likely associated with metals?
Correct answer: being a good thermal conductor
being brittle
being a poor electrical conductor
Correct answer: being malleable
Q3.
Match each term to the correct statement.
Correct Answer:acid,a solution that has a pH of less than 7

a solution that has a pH of less than 7

Correct Answer:chemical reaction,when atoms are rearranged, and changes can be observed, e.g. bubbles

when atoms are rearranged, and changes can be observed, e.g. bubbles

Correct Answer:corrosion,when a metal reduces in size due to a chemical reaction

when a metal reduces in size due to a chemical reaction

Correct Answer:metal,a strong, shiny, malleable & ductile thermal and electrical conductor

a strong, shiny, malleable & ductile thermal and electrical conductor

Correct Answer:non-metal,a not strong, dull, brittle and poor thermal and electrical conductor

a not strong, dull, brittle and poor thermal and electrical conductor

Q4.
Decide whether the following statement is true or false and why this is correct: 'The elements highlighted in green in this image are all metals.'
An image in a quiz
true
Correct answer: false
hydrogen is a non-metal
Correct answer: they are all non-metals
Q5.
A pupil wrote the following sentence: 'When a metal reacts, it forms salt and a gas.' Select the statement which explains this more accurately.
Correct answer: When a metal reacts with an acid, it forms a metal salt and hydrogen.
When a metal reacts, it forms bubbles and salt.
When a metal reacts with an acid, it forms a non-metal.
When a metal reacts with an acid, it forms hydrogen gas.
Q6.
Complete the word equation for the following reaction: magnesium + hydrochloric acid -> + hydrogen
Correct Answer: magnesium chloride
Q4 UYSEG

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The reactivity of metals can be deduced from their reactions with certain substances. Starting with the least reactive, put the following in order of reactivity.
1 - unreactive
2 - reacts with oxygen
3 - reacts with dilute acid
4 - reacts with cold water
Q2.
What happens when tin is added to water and why?
Correct answer: no reaction occurs
a reaction occurs
because tin is reactive enough to react with water
Correct answer: because tin is not reactive enough to react with water
Q3.
The reaction of magnesium with hydrochloric acid is irreversible. Given enough acid and time, the reaction goes to completion. MgCl$$_2$$ is very soluble. What would you see when the reaction stops?
a completely empty beaker
Correct answer: a beaker with what looks like water
a beaker with liquid, with a pile of salt at the bottom
a beaker with a smaller piece of magnesium in what looks like water
Q4.
The reactivity of metals can be deduced from their method of extraction. Starting with the least reactive/easiest to extract, put the following methods of extraction in the correct order.
1 - the metals are found in their native state in nature
2 - extraction by displacement with carbon
3 - extraction by electrolysis
Q5.
Match each term to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:effervescence,when bubbles of gas are produced in a liquid, so the liquid is fizzing

when bubbles of gas are produced in a liquid, so the liquid is fizzing

Correct Answer:exothermic,when energy is transferred from reactants to surroundings

when energy is transferred from reactants to surroundings

Correct Answer:irreversible reaction,reactants form products, and the reaction goes to completion

reactants form products, and the reaction goes to completion

Correct Answer:reactivity series,metals placed in order of reactivity; most reactive metal at the top

metals placed in order of reactivity; most reactive metal at the top

Q6.
Starting with the least reactive, put the following metals in order of reactivity.
1 - platinum
2 - copper
3 - hydrogen
4 - tin
5 - carbon
6 - aluminium
7 - potassium