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Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Topic 10: Metals: Reactivity

The document discusses the reactivity series of metals. It explains that metals can be arranged in order of their reactivity based on their reactions with water, acids, and other substances. The reactivity of a metal is related to its tendency to form positive ions. More reactive metals can displace less reactive ones from compounds. The document also describes how heating various metal compounds like hydroxides and carbonates can provide information about a metal's position in the reactivity series.

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asif shaw
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512 views3 pages

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Topic 10: Metals: Reactivity

The document discusses the reactivity series of metals. It explains that metals can be arranged in order of their reactivity based on their reactions with water, acids, and other substances. The reactivity of a metal is related to its tendency to form positive ions. More reactive metals can displace less reactive ones from compounds. The document also describes how heating various metal compounds like hydroxides and carbonates can provide information about a metal's position in the reactivity series.

Uploaded by

asif shaw
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cambridge​ ​IGCSE​ ​Chemistry

Topic​ ​10:​ ​Metals


Reactivity​ ​series

Notes

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Place​ ​in​ ​order​ ​of​ ​reactivity:​ ​potassium,​ ​sodium,​ ​calcium,​ ​magnesium,​ ​zinc,
iron,​ ​(hydrogen)​ ​and​ ​copper,​ ​by​ ​reference​ ​to​ ​the​ ​reactions,​ ​if​ ​any,​ ​of​ ​the
metals​ ​with:​ ​water​ ​or​ ​steam,​ ​dilute​ ​hydrochloric​ ​acid​ ​and​ ​the​ ​reduction​ ​of
their​ ​oxides​ ​with​ ​carbon

● Metals​ ​can​ ​be​ ​arranged​ ​in​ ​order​ ​of​ ​their​ ​reactivity​ ​in​ ​a​ ​reactivity​ ​series
o Metals​ ​potassium,​ ​sodium,​ ​calcium,​ ​magnesium,​ ​zinc,​ ​iron​ ​and​ ​copper
can​ ​be​ ​put​ ​in​ ​order​ ​of​ ​their​ ​reactivity​ ​from​ ​their​ ​reactions​ ​with​ ​water​ ​and
dilute​ ​acids
o Non-metals​ ​hydrogen​ ​and​ ​carbon​ ​are​ ​often​ ​included​ ​in​ ​the​ ​reactivity
series

(Extended​ ​only)​ ​Describe​ ​the​ ​reactivity​ ​series​ ​as​ ​related​ ​to​ ​the​ ​tendency​ ​of​ ​a
metal​ ​to​ ​form​ ​its​ ​positive​ ​ion,​ ​illustrated​ ​by​ ​its​ ​reaction,​ ​if​ ​any,​ ​with:​ ​the
aqueous​ ​ions​ ​and​ ​the​ ​oxides​ ​of​ ​the​ ​other​ ​listed​ ​metals

● When​ ​metals​ ​react​ ​with​ ​other​ ​substances,​ ​metal​ ​atoms​ ​form​ ​positive​ ​ions
● Reactivity​ ​of​ ​a​ ​metal​ ​is​ ​related​ ​to​ ​its​ ​tendency​ ​to​ ​form​ ​positive​ ​ions
● A​ ​more​ r​ eactive​ ​metal​ ​can​ ​displace​ ​a​ ​less​ ​reactive​ ​metals​ ​from​ ​a​ ​compound​ ​e.g.
oxide​ ​or​ ​aqueous​ ​solution​ ​with​ ​the​ ​aqueous​ ​ions​ ​(think​ ​about​ ​how​ ​this​ ​is​ ​similar
as​ ​well​ ​to​ ​halogens)

(Extended​ ​only)​ ​Describe​ ​and​ ​explain​ ​the​ ​action​ ​of​ ​heat​ ​on​ ​the​ ​hydroxides,
carbonates​ ​and​ ​nitrates​ ​of​ ​the​ ​listed​ ​metals

● Metal​ ​carbonate​ ​–(heat)->​ ​metal​ ​oxide​ ​+​ ​carbon​ ​dioxide


o Calcium,​ ​sodium,​ ​magnesium​ ​and​ ​copper​ ​decompose​ ​in​ ​this​ ​way

These​ ​two​ ​reactions​ ​help​ ​to​ ​determine​ ​places​ ​of​ ​metals​ ​in​ ​the​ ​reactivity​ ​series:
● Metal​ ​hydroxide​ ​–(heat)->​ ​metal​ ​oxide​ ​+​ ​steam
o Zinc,​ ​iron,​ ​copper​ ​decompose

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o Potassium,​ ​sodium,​ ​calcium,​ ​magnesium​ ​are​ ​too​ ​stable​ ​and​ ​therefore​ ​do
not​ ​decompose​ ​in​ ​this​ ​way
● Metal​ ​nitrate​ ​–(heat)->​ ​metal​ ​oxide​ ​+​ ​nitrogen​ ​dioxide​ ​+​ ​oxygen
o Zinc,​ ​iron,​ ​copper
● Metal​ ​nitrate​ ​–(heat)->​ ​metal​ ​nitrite​ ​+​ ​oxygen
o Potassium,​ ​sodium,​ ​calcium,​ ​magnesium

(Extended​ ​only)​ ​Account​ ​for​ ​the​ ​apparent​ ​unreactivity​ ​of​ ​aluminium​ ​in​ ​terms
of​ ​the​ ​oxide​ ​layer,​ ​which​ ​adheres​ ​to​ ​the​ ​metal

● Aluminium​ ​metal​ ​reacts​ ​with​ ​oxygen​ ​in​ ​the​ ​air​ ​to​ ​form​ ​Al​2​O​3​,​ ​aluminium​ ​oxide
o This​ ​coats​ ​the​ ​surface​ ​of​ ​the​ ​aluminium​ ​and​ ​is​ ​very​ ​unreactive
● Therefore,​ ​it​ ​can​ ​prevent​ ​the​ ​aluminium​ ​metal​ ​from​ ​further​ ​oxidation

Deduce​ ​an​ ​order​ ​of​ ​reactivity​ ​from​ ​a​ ​given​ ​set​ ​of​ ​experimental​ ​results
● use​ ​the​ ​results​ ​from​ ​either​ ​reactions​ ​written​ ​on​ ​the​ ​reactivity​ ​series​ ​or​ ​action​ ​of
heat​ ​on​ ​metal​ ​hydroxides/nitrates/carbonates.
● generally,​ ​less​ ​reactive​ ​metals​ ​will​ ​remain​ ​unchanged​ ​as​ ​they​ ​will​ ​not​ ​undergo
reaction

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