Unit 10 Sec 1

The reactions of metals
with oxygen
Unit 10
Secondary 1
Burning metals in the laboratory
Magnesium ribbon
Mg burns in the air, emitting a bright white flash, and then combines with oxygen to form basic
magnesium oxide. https://youtu.be/k6C2dETQ0bw
Iron
Iron has a strong molecular force of attraction. Hence when heated it doesn't reach to its ignition
temperature and doesn't burn. But iron fillings when sprinkled in flames attain the ignition temperature
( as iron fillings are comparatively smaller particles) and gain larger surface area for the reaction.
https://youtu.be/84HJs7EnwJQ
Sodium
Mg burns in the air, emitting a bright white flash, and then combines with oxygen to form basic
magnesium oxide. https://youtu.be/4bFKMk3OgTQ
Making observations and presenting results
Metal Observation
magnesium Bright white sparks. Cracking sounds. Very

vigorous
zinc Bright white sparks. More vigorous than

iron?
copper No signs of a reaction.
iron Burned-bright yellow sparks.
● Some metals burn in air

● On burning, metals react with oxygen to make metal oxides.
● The burning reactions of sodium and magnesium are very vigorous.
The reactions of metals with water
Calcium and water
The calcium has reacted with the water. The bubbles contained
hydrogen gas.
calcium + water = calcium hydroxide + hydrogen
lithium + water = lithium hydroxide + hydrogen ( very vigorously)

Magnesium ribbon reacts with cold water. ( the reaction is so slow)
Metals that do not react with water are very useful. (eg Cu,Au )
An order of reactivity
Metals Comment
potassium Most vigorous reactions Reaction get less vigorous
sidium
lithium
calcium
magnesium
zinc
copper Do not react with water under normal

conditions
solver
gold
platinum
The reactions of metals with acids
Assessing hazards and controlling risks
Obtaining evidence
concentration of hydrochloric acid
size of metal pieces
magnesium + hydrochloric acid =

magnesium chloride (salt)+ hydrogen
zinc + hydrochloric acid = zinc

chloride(salt) + hydrogen
iron + hydrochloric acid = iron chloride

(salt)+ hydrogen
Test for hydrogen

● In hydrogen gas, a lighted splint goes out with a squeaky pop.
The reactivity Series
● Potassium, sodium, and lithium react vigorously with water and
oxygen, and violently with dilute acids.
● Calcium and magnesium have the next most vigorous reactions.
● Zinc, iron, and lead react slowly (or not at all) with dilute acids and
cold water. They burn in air, but their reactions are less vigorous
than those of magnesium.
● Silver, gold, and platinum do not react with water, dilute acids, or
oxygen at normal conditions.
The reactivity series and the periodic table
The reactivity series is a list of metals in

order of how vigorous their reactions are.
Corrosion
lithium + oxygen lithium oxide
Zinc is bolted onto the boat’s

hull.
It corrodes instead of the steel.
Nickel in the reactivity series

When metals and powder metals adding to dilute acid
Nickel = bubbles form slowly
nickel powder = reacts quickly to make nickel oxide
Magnesium = bubbles vigorously
Zinc = bubbles vigorously
Copper = no reaction
Iron powder = reacts quickly to make iron oxide
Lead powder = reacts quickly to make lead oxide

Observations after leaving the metal in water and air for one week
Nickel = no reaction
Iron = red-brown flaky substance formed
Lead = no reaction
Observations on adding to dilute sulfuric acid

Nickel = slowly, bubbles form
Iron = bubbles form, more vigorous than reaction of nickel
Lead = no reaction
Metal displacement reactions
magnesium + copper = sulfate copper + magnesium sulfate
Magnesium is higher in the reactivity series than copper. It displaces

copper from copper sulfate solution.
*The blue copper sulfate solution becomes paler

The Thermite reaction
aluminium + iron oxide = aluminium oxide + iron
The thermite reaction gives out lots of heat. The heat melts the iron.
Railway workers use liquid iron from the thermite reaction to join rails
together.
Using the reactivity series:extracting metals from their ores
Metal compounds and the reactivity series:
The higher a metal in the reactivity series, the more strongly its atoms
are joined to atoms of other elements in compounds.
The more strongly the atoms of a compound are joined, the more
difficult it
is to extract an element from the compound.

Extracting gold
Gold is unreactive. It is found as an element in the Earth’s crust. The metal is easily
separated from the substances it is mixed with.
Extracting metals in the middle of the reactivity series
Iron
Most iron exists as oxides in the Earth’s crust. The oxides are heated with carbon. Carbon
is more reactive than iron. It removes oxygen from iron oxide.
Lead
Heat lead sulfide in air:
lead sulfide + oxygen = lead oxide + sulfur dioxide
Heat the lead oxide with carbon. Carbon is more reactive than lead. It removes oxygen
from lead oxide:
lead oxide + carbon= lead + carbon dioxide
A pattern of reactions
Zinc, and metals below zinc in the reactivity series, can be extracted from their oxides by
heating with carbon. The reactions work because carbon is more reactive than these metals.
Extracting metals at the top of the reactivity series
The aluminium and oxygen atoms are strongly joined together. Carbon is not
reactive enough to remove oxygen from aluminium oxide.
Aluminium is extracted from its oxide by electrolysis:
● Dissolve pure aluminium oxide in a special solvent.
● Pass a 100 000 amp electric current through the solution. The electricity splits
up aluminium oxide. Liquid aluminium is produced.
Sodium
Sodium is extracted by passing an electric current through seawater
Writing symbol equations
Zinc and copper oxide
Zinc reacts with copper oxide in a displacement reaction. The products are copper and zinc oxide.
1. Write a word equation. Put the correct chemical symbol or formula under each reactant and
product.
zinc + copper oxide = zinc oxide + copper
Zn + CuO = ZnO + Cu
2. Balance the equation. There must be the same number of atoms of each
element on each side of the equation.
Burning magnesium
1. magnesium + oxygen magnesium oxide
Mg + O2 = MgO
2. Mg + O2 = 2MgO

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The reactions of metals

magnesium Bright white sparks. Cracking sounds. Very

zinc Bright white sparks. More vigorous than

copper No signs of a reaction.

iron Burned-bright yellow sparks.

● Some metals burn in air

calcium + water = calcium hydroxide + hydrogen

lithium + water = lithium hydroxide + hydrogen ( very vigorously)

potassium Most vigorous reactions Reaction get less vigorous

copper Do not react with water under normal

size of metal pieces

magnesium + hydrochloric acid =

zinc + hydrochloric acid = zinc

iron + hydrochloric acid = iron chloride

Test for hydrogen

The reactivity series is a list of metals in

Zinc is bolted onto the boat’s

Nickel in the reactivity series

Nickel = bubbles form slowly

nickel powder = reacts quickly to make nickel oxide

Magnesium = bubbles vigorously

Zinc = bubbles vigorously

Iron powder = reacts quickly to make iron oxide

Lead powder = reacts quickly to make lead oxide

Observations on adding to dilute sulfuric acid

Magnesium is higher in the reactivity series than copper. It displaces

*The blue copper sulfate solution becomes paler

Metal compounds and the reactivity series:

is to extract an element from the compound.

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