Metal Reactivity Series

Metals usually have similar physical properties because of the type of chemical bond between
atoms, however, they differ in other ways (because of their different electronic arrangement).

A. Some metals are more reactive than others

Example 1 :
Na reacts rapidly with water and oxygen.
Fe also reacts with water and oxygen, but much more slowly, forming rust.
Au remains totally unchanged in air after many hundreds of years.

Example 2 :
Metal Storage method Reason

K or Na Under paraffin oil It reacts with oxygen in air.

Its surface turns dull rapidly when the
metal is exposed to air,
due to the forming an oxide layer on the
metal surface.

Ca In airtight container It reacts with oxygen in air slowly.

(desiccator) It must be kept away from air.

1. Reactivity of a metal refers to the readiness of it to react with other substances.

2. Three factors are considered when comparing the reactivity of metals:
a. The ​lowest temperature at which the reaction starts
b. The ​rate​ of reaction
c. The ​amount of heat​ given out during reaction
B. Reactions of metals with air (oxygen)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQyJIxiSvUA

Meta Lowest temperature at which reaction starts Observation

l

K Gentle heating is required Burns with lilac flame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HdAhs_ Black solid left behind
-Y2g

Ca Strong heating is required Burns with brick red flame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dszSKIM White/grey solid left behind
5rqk

Zn Strong heating is required Would not burn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y12R0Eg White solid is formed
OJOo

Fe In air Burns with yellow sparks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MDH92
VxPEQ&t=3s

Fe In pure oxygen In pure oxygen, iron burns with

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7j14otC bright yellow flame to form a grey
dyY solid

Cu Very strong heating The copper wire doesn’t burn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn4HMR THe copper foil turns black
PKslo

Au Very strong heating No observable change

Metal + oxygen reactivity:

K, Na, Ca > Zn, Fe, Cu > Au
Word equations
i. Potassium + oxygen → potassium oxide (or potassium peroxide)

ii. Calcium + oxygen → calcium oxide

iii. Zinc + oxygen → zinc oxide

iv. Iron + oxygen → iron(III) oxide (or iron(II,III) oxide)

v. Copper + oxygen → copper(II) oxide

When calcium granules are exposed

to air, its surface turns grey
gradually. Explain.

The calcium granules react with

oxygen in air to form an oxide layer
on the surface.

Calcium granules

C. Reactions of metals with water

Whether the metal react with cold water / hot water / steam / not react at all.
Whether the rate is fast or slow → how to measure ??
Whether a large amount of heat is given out
Condition Observation Word Equation

K Cold water A silvery ball is formed and Potassium + water → potassium

moves on the surface of hydroxide + hydrogen (hydroxide is
water alkaline)
Burns with lilac flame

Ca Cold water A lot of colourless gas Calcium + water → calcium

bubbles are formed hydroxide + hydrogen

Zn Steam White solid Zinc + water → zinc oxide +

 hydrogen

Fe Steam Black solid Iron + water → iron(III) oxide +

hydrogen

Cu Steam No observable change Copper + water → no reaction

Metal + water reactivity:

K > Ca > Zn, Fe > Cu

provide steam and sufficient energy (temp.)

📕 Assignment 1

D. Reactions with dilute hydrochloric acid

💣 ​Practical Test ​ eactions of metals with dilute hydrochloric acid
:​ R

Observation Word Equation

K/Na Explosive reaction, never try this out in laboratory

Ca A lot of colourless gas Calcium + hydrochloric acid → calcium chloride +

 bubbles are formed hydrogen
Heat is given out
Calcium dissolves

Zn A lot of colourless gas Zinc + hydrochloric acid → zinc chloride +

bubbles are formed hydrogen
moderately.

Fe Some colourless gas Iron + hydrochloric acid → iron(II) chloride +

bubbles are formed slowly hydrogen
Heat is required

Cu No observable change ---------------------

Au No observable change ---------------------

E. Thermite reaction (Competition between metals for oxygen)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8gapa8ibK0

A more reactive metal will ​displace​ a less reactive metal from a ​compound​. The
thermite reaction​ is a good example of this. It is used to produce white hot molten
(liquid) iron in remote locations for welding. A lot of heat is needed to start the reaction,
but then it releases an incredible amount of heat, enough to melt the iron.

Aluminium + iron(III) oxide → iron + aluminium oxide

Railroad thermite welding near the Mississippi river :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7JfNBmcjXo

Reactions between metals and metal oxides allow us to put a selection of metals into a
reactivity series.

F. Displacement reactions in solutions

 A more reactive metal will ​displace​ a less reactive metal from a solution of one of its
salts.
Example 1:

Magnesium + copper(II) sulphate solution → copper + magnesium sulphate solution

Example 2 :

Copper + magnesium sulphate solution → No reaction

Example 3 :

Potassium + magnesium sulphate solution → magnesium + potassium sulphate solution

Observation: colourless gas bubbles evolve (hydrogen) because the solution is made up
mostly of water and potassium reacts with it

Potassium + water → potassium hydroxide + hydrogen gas

Silver nitrate solution + iron → silver + iron(III) nitrate solution

Observation: silvery solid

Silver nitrate solution + copper → silver + copper(II) nitrate solution

Observation: blue solution and silvery solid

Magnesium chloride solution + zinc → no reaction

📕 Assignment 2
💣 ​ isplacement reactions of metals
Expt :​ D

G. Metals and alloys

An alloy is a metal combined with another element (may be metals or non-metals).
● Iron obtained from blast furnace containing carbon impurities (> 2%) is brittle
● Removing the carbon impurities produces pure iron, but it is too soft to be useful
● Steel = alloy of Fe & C (0.02% - 1.7%)
● Stainless steel = alloy of Fe and other metals including chromium (min. 10.5%)

Search for the difference in general properties between pure metal & alloy
1. Alloys are usually stronger and harder than the pure metal (e.g. Carat Gold, 18K
and Gold, iron and stainless steel)
 2. Alloys usually have lower electrical and thermal conductivity (e.g. stainless steel)
3. Alloys are usually more resistant to chemical attack and more corrosion resistant
(e.g. stainless steel)
4. Melting points of alloys are usually lower than the pure metal (e.g. solder vs lead)

Search for the uses of ​iron, steel and stainless steel​.

Uses of Cast iron Uses of steel Uses of stainless steel

● Use to manufacture ● Construction of ● Cutlery, rulers, catering

steel roads, railways and equipment (e.g. in food
● Pipes, valves, bridges processing)
pumps ● Structural steel in ● Surgical instruments,
● As catalyst for modern buildings razor blades
some industrial ● Ship buildings, ● Watches
processes pipelines ● Washing machines,
● Major appliances drums
and car bodies ● Vehicle exhaust system

Other common alloys :

Duralumin
90% aluminium, 4% copper, 0.5-1.5% manganese, 0.5-1% aluminium
Use: making aircraft bodies

Copper alloy : bronze ​(Cu + Sn(12%))​, brass ​(Cu + Zn)​, coinage metals etc
Gold alloy : 18K gold