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Chemistry

• Book 1C
• Topic 3 Metals

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 2

Content
11.1 Comparing the reactivity of metals

11.2 Reactions of metals with oxygen of air


11.3 Reactions of metals with water and steam
11.4 Reactions of metals with dilute acids
11.5 Reactivity series of metals
11.6 Chemical equations
11.7 Balancing chemical equations
Continued on next page

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 3

Content
11.8 An explanation for the metal reactivity series
11.9 Displacement reactions
11.10Ionic equations
11.11 Relation between the extraction method for
a metal and its reactivity
11.12Prediction of reactions using the reactivity
series
Key terms

Summary

Unit Exercise
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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 4

11.1Comparing the reactivity of metals (p.29)

You can compare the reactivity of metals based on their


w reactions with oxygen of air;
Gold does not react with air and water
w reactions with water; and
w reactions with dilute acids.
Iron rusts
Sodium reacts with
water vigorously

Comparing the reactivity of


three unknown metals Ref.:
K, Na, Mg (+ O2)
K, Na, Ca (+ H2O)
Ca, Mg (+ HCl(aq))

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 5

11.2 Reactions of metals with oxygen of air


(p.30)
metal + oxygen  metal oxide

• Sodium is ignited easily

• Magnesium is ignited under strong heating

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 6

11.3 Reactions of metals with water or steam


(p.33)
sodium + water à sodium hydroxide + hydrogen

• Sodium reacts with cold water vigorously

• Calcium reacts with cold water steadily

• Magnesium reacts with steam

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 7

11.3 Reactions of metals with water or steam


(p.33)
Practice 11.1
Results of some reactions of metals W, X, Y and Z are given below.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 8

11.3 Reactions of metals with water or steam


(p.33)
a) Arrange these metals in decreasing order of reactivity.
b) Which of these metals could be
i) magnesium;
ii) copper?
c) A small piece of metal X is added to a trough of water. A metal hydroxide of
chemical formula XOH is formed in the reaction.
i) A few drops of universal indicator solution are added to the trough of
water after the reaction.
State and explain the colour of the universal indicator solution in the
water.
ii) The ore of metal X contains its chloride. Suggest how X could be
extracted from its chloride.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 9

11.4 Reactions of metals with dilute acids


(p.33)
metal + dilute hydrochloric acid  metal chloride + hydrogen
metal + dilute sulphuric acid  metal sulphate + hydrogen
Ca(s) + HCl(aq)

Mg(s) + HCl(aq)
readily

moderately

Zn(s) + HCl(aq)

slowly

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 10

11.5 Reactivity series of metals (p.39)


w Reactivity series (活性序)—comparing the vigour of the
reactions of metals with oxygen, water, steam and dilute acid

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 11

11.5 Reactivity series of metals (p.39)


Practice 11.2
A reactivity series of metals is given below. a)
Which TWO metals will react vigorously
with cold water?
b) Which TWO metals will NOT react with
dilute hydrochloric acid?
c) Describe an experiment to show that
manganese is more reactive than copper.
State your expected observations.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 12

11.6 Chemical equations (p.41)


w In sunlight, hydrogen gas reacts with chlorine gas violently
to form hydrogen chloride gas:

w You can describe the reaction by a chemical equation (化


學方程式) that is balanced (平衡的)—with the number of
atoms of each element the same on both sides.
or
one-way reversible (可逆的)
State symbol:
(s) = solid; (l) = liquid; (g) = gas;
(aq) = aqueous solution

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 13

11.7 Balancing chemical equations (p.42)


w Take 4 steps as shown to balance a chemical equation.
Q (Example 11.1) Write the chemical equation for
the reaction between…
A

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 14

11.7 Balancing chemical equations (p.42)


Q (Example 11.2) Write the chemical equation for
the reaction between…
A

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 15

11.7 Balancing chemical equations (p.42)


Q (Example 11.3) Write the chemical equation for
the reaction between…
A

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 16

11.7 Balancing chemical equations (p.42)


Q (Example 11.4) Write the chemical equation for
the reaction between…
A

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 17

11.7 Balancing chemical equations (p.42)


Practice 11.3
1 Write a chemical equation for each of the following reactions:
a) Calcium reacts with oxygen of air to form calcium oxide.

b) Sodium reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide solution and hydrogen
gas.
c) Iron reacts with steam to form iron(II,III) oxide and hydrogen gas.

d) Zinc reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form zinc chloride solution and
hydrogen gas.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 18

11.7 Balancing chemical equations (p.42)


2 Translate each of the following word equations into a chemical equation.
a) ammonium dichromate  chromium(III) oxide + nitrogen + water
(NH4)2Cr2O7(s)  Cr2O3(s) + N2(g) + 4H2O(l)
b) silver oxide  silver + oxygen

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals
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11.8 An explanation for the metal reactivity


series (p.45)
w When metals react with water or dilute HCl(aq), the metals lose
electrons to become ions.

w In these reactions, the most reactive metal is the one that has
the highest tendency to lose the outermost shell electron(s) to
form a positive ion.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 20

11.8 An explanation for the metal reactivity


series (p.45)
Comparing Period 3 metals

During a reaction,
w Na atom loses 1e- ; w Mg atom loses 2e- ;
w losing 1e- is easier; w losing 2e- is less easy;
(as less energy is required)
w hence sodium is more reactive than magnesium.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 21

11.8 An explanation for the metal reactivity


series (p.45)
During a reaction, both of
Comparing Group II metals
them lose 2e- .
 Mg atom has 3 occupied
electron shells.

 Ca atom has 4 occupied


electron shells.
 The outermost shell
electrons in Ca are further
away from and less tightly
bound to the nucleus.
Hence, Ca atom loses its
outermost shell e- more easily
and is thus more reactive.
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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 22

11.9 Displacement reactions (p.48)


w You can get the order of reactivity of metals based on:
- their reactions with oxygen, water and dilute acids; and
- their displacement reactions (置換反應)—a more
reactive metal displacing a less reactive metal from a
compound of the latter in solution.

Cu displaces Ag from AgNO3(aq),


so Cu is more reactive than Ag.

Comparing the reactivity of


metals displacement reactions
Displacement reaction Ref. Ref.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 23

11.9 Displacement reactions (p.48)


Practice 11.4
1 What will happen if you keep a copper(II) sulphate solution in an iron vessel?
Explain the observation.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 24

11.9 Displacement reactions (p.48)


2 The following experiments were carried out to find the order of reactivity of
the metals, cobalt (Co), magnesium (Mg), silver (Ag) and tin (Sn).
The observations are listed below.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 25

11.9 Displacement reactions (p.48)


a) Deduce as far as possible the order of the reactivity of these metals.
b) What additional experiment needs to be done to put all four metals in order
of reactivity?

c) Write chemical equations for the following reactions:


i) reaction between tin and silver nitrate solution

ii) reaction between magnesium and tin(II) nitrate solution

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 26

11.10 Ionic equations (p.50)


w Consider this reaction:

w If you write the equation showing the ions, you have

w Zn(s) becomes Zn2+(aq). Cu2+(aq) becomes Cu(s).


w SO42-(aq) ions are spectator ions (旁觀離子). They do not
take part in the reaction.
w If you cross out the spectator ions, you have the ionic equation
(離子方程式), which shows only ions that form or change.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 27

11.10 Ionic equations (p.50)


Q (Example 11.5)
Write the ionic equation for the reaction between magnesium and
dilute hydrochloric acid.
A
Steps Results
1 Write the balanced
chemical equation.
2 Show all ions.
3 Keep all solids, liquids (see above)
and gases.
4 Delete all spectator ions
to get the ionic equation.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 28

11.10 Ionic equations (p.50)


Practice 11.5
1 Write an ionic equation for each of the reactions.
a) Zinc is added to dilute hydrochloric acid.
Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq)  ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)

b) Iron is added to copper(II) sulphate solution.


Fe(s) + CuSO4(aq)  FeSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

2 Magnesium reacts with aluminium sulphate solution to form magnesium


sulphate solution and aluminium.
a) Write the chemical equation; and

b) Write the ionic equation for the reaction.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 29

11.11 Relation between the extraction method


for a metal and its reactivity (p.52)
w Metals usually exist in the form of positive ions in ores.
w The more reactive a metal is, the easier it is to lose e-.
So it is more difficult for its positive ion to gain e- to become
the metal to be extracted.

The more reactive a metal is, the more difficult it is to be


extracted from its ore.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 30

11.11 Relation between the extraction method


for a metal and its reactivity (p.52)
 The method used to extract a metal from its ore depends
on the position of the metal in the reactivity series:

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 31

11.12 Prediction of reactions using the


reactivity series (p.53)
w The higher a metal is in the reactivity series, the more stable
its compounds are likely to be.
w So oxides of reactive metals are stable and difficult to
decompose by heat.
w So if Zn and Cu compete to be compounds, Zn will win
because Zn is more reactive than Cu.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 32

11.12 Prediction of reactions using the


reactivity series (p.53)
e.g. MgO(s) will not decompose when heated.
HgO(s) decomposes into mercury and oxygen when heated.

Mercury(II) oxide decomposes into


silvery droplets of liquid mercury
and oxygen when heated

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 33

11.12 Prediction of reactions using the


reactivity series (p.53)
w e.g. Zn wins over Cu to become a compound: a powdered
mixture of Zn(s) and CuO(s) became ZnO(s) and Cu(s)
when heated.
w This is a thermit reaction (鋁熱反應)—an exothermic reaction
between a metal powder and a metal oxide.

A powdered mixture of Zn(s) and


CuO(s) is still burning even after
the removal of the Bunsen burner.

Thermit reactions:
- used industrially for welding;
- used for extraction of metals
from their oxides.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 34

11.12 Prediction of reactions using the


reactivity series (p.53)
Practice 11.6
1 A powdered mixture of
lead(II) oxide and
magnesium is placed
in a crucible
and heated strongly.

a) A vigorous reaction takes place. Briefly explain why a reaction occurs.


Magnesium is more reactive than lead. /
Magnesium forms compounds more readily than lead does. /
Magnesium loses electrons more readily than lead does.
b) Name the products formed. Lead and magnesium oxide
c) Write the chemical equation for the reaction.
Mg(s) + PbO(s) à MgO(s) + Pb(s)

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 35

Key terms (p.56)

reactivity series 活性序 displacement 置換反應


reaction
chemical equation 化學方程式 spectator ion 旁觀離子
balanced 平衡的 ionic equation 離子方程式
reversible 可逆的 thermit reaction 鋁熱反應

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 36

Summary (p.57)
1 Metals can be arranged in order of their reactivity. The
list is called the reactivity series.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 37

Summary (p.57)
2 The following table summarises the reactions of metals in
the reactivity series.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 38

Summary (p.57)
3 Balanced chemical equations for reactions of some
common metals with oxygen of air:

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 39

Summary (p.57)

4 Balanced chemical equations for reactions of some


common metals with water or steam:

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 40

Summary (p.57)
5 Balanced equations for reactions of some common metals
with dilute hydrochloric acid and dilute sulphuric acid:

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 41

Summary (p.57)

6 A metal that most readily reacts with water and dilute


hydrochloric acid (the most reactive metal) is the one that
has the highest tendency to lose outermost shell electron(s)
to form a positive ion.

7 In a displacement reaction, a more reactive metal displaces


a less reactive metal from a compound of the less reactive
metal in a solution.

For example:

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 42

Summary (p.57)

8 The more reactive a metal is, the more difficult it is to be


extracted from its ore.

9 The higher a metal is in the reactivity series, the more stable


its compounds are likely to be.

10 Silver oxide decomposes to silver and oxygen when heated.


Mercury(II) oxide decomposes to mercury and oxygen when
heated.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 43

Summary (p.57)

11 The lower a metal is in the reactivity series, the more readily


its oxide decomposes when heated.

12 When a powdered mixture of zinc and copper(II) oxide is


heated, the reaction starts and the mixture keeps burning
even after the Bunsen burner is removed — the thermit
reaction.

Zinc competes with copper for oxygen, and wins.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 44

Unit Exercise (p.60)

Note: Questions are rated according to ascending level of


difficulty (from 1 to 5):

question targeted at level 3 and above;


question targeted at level 4 and above;
question targeted at level 5.
‘ * ’ indicates 1 mark is given for effective communication.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 45

Unit Exercise (p.60) a) paraffin oil


b) gold / silver /
platinum
PART I KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDINGc) sodium hydroxide /
1 Complete the following concept map. hydrogen
d) sodium hydroxide /
hydrogen
e) iron(II, III) oxide /
hydrogen

f) iron(II, III) oxide /


hydrogen
g) iron(II) chloride /
hydrogen
h) iron(II) chloride /
hydrogen

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 46

Unit Exercise (p.60)


PART II MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
2 Some information about the reactions of four metals with oxygen is given
below.

Cobalt reacts slowly at high temperatures


Iron reacts quickly when heated strongly
Magnesium burns when heated
Tungsten reacts very slowly at extremely high temperatures

Which of the following shows the decreasing order of reactivity of these


four metals?
A cobalt > tungsten > iron > magnesium
B cobalt > iron > magnesium > tungsten
C magnesium > iron > cobalt > tungsten
D magnesium > tungsten > iron > cobalt

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 47

Unit Exercise (p.60)


3 Consider the following experimental set-up:

Which of the following would NOT be X?


A Iron
B Zinc
C Copper
D Magnesium
(HKDSE, Paper 1A, 2016, 4)

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 48

Unit Exercise (p.60)


4 X, Y and Z are different metals. When they are placed separately in
NaCl(aq), only Y gives colourless gas bubbles. When each of their oxides
is heated strongly, only the oxide of X gives a colourless gas. Which of the
following shows the decreasing order of reactivity of these three metals?

A Y>Z>X
B X>Y>Z
C Y>X>Z
D Z>Y>X
(HKDSE, Paper 1A, 2018, 9)

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 49

Unit Exercise (p.60)


5 Which of the following metals will react with zinc chloride solution?

A Copper
B Gold
C Iron
D Magnesium

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 50

Unit Exercise (p.60)


6 X, Y and Z are metals. The table below lists the observations when each of
them is put into tin(II) nitrate solution.

Which of the following shows the increasing order of reactivity of the


metals?
A X<Y<Z
B Y<Z<X
C Z<X<Y
D Y<X<Z

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 51

Unit Exercise (p.60)


7 Consider the following information of four metals W, X, Y and Z:

(1) W can only be extracted by electrolysis of its molten salt.


(2) Putting X in FeSO4(aq) gives a grey deposit on the metal.
(3) Putting Y in dilute HCl(aq) gives a colourless gas.
(4) Heating the oxide of Z gives metal Z.

Which of the metals is the LEAST reactive?


A W
B X
C Y
D Z

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 52

Unit Exercise (p.60)


8 Experiments are carried out to investigate the order of reactivity of three
metals.
‘✓’ represents displacement
reaction occurs
‘✘’ represents displacement
reaction does not occur

Which of the following shows the increasing order of reactivity of the metals?
A iron < chromium < manganese
B iron < manganese < chromium
C manganese < chromium < iron
D manganese < iron < chromium

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 53

Unit Exercise (p.60)


9 Three metals are extracted as shown in the table.

Which of the following shows the decreasing order of reactivity of the metals?

A X>Y>Z
B X>Z>
C Y>X>Z
D Z>X>Y

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 54

Unit Exercise (p.60)

10 Which of the following pairs of metal and metal oxide


will likely react to give the most vigorous reaction?

A Copper and potassium oxide


B Iron and calcium oxide
C Magnesium and silver oxide
D Zinc and sodium oxide

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 55

Unit Exercise (p.60)


11 Four metals are listed in decreasing order of reactivity.
magnesium
zinc
iron
copper

Titanium reacts with acid and cannot be extracted from its ore by heating with
carbon.
Where should titanium be placed in the list?
A Below copper
B Between iron and copper
C Between magnesium and zinc
D Between zinc and iron
(Cambridge IGCSE, 0620/13, Paper 1, Nov. 2016, 24)

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 56

Unit Exercise (p.60)


12 Vanadium(V) is an important metal. In the oldest method of extraction of
vanadium, V2O5 is reacted with calcium at a high temperature.

xCa(s) + V2O5(s)  yV(s) + zCaO(s)

What are the values of x, y and z in the equation?


xyz
A 313
B 323
C 525
D 535

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 57

Unit Exercise (p.60)


13 Self-igniting flares contain magnesium phosphide (Mg3P2). It reacts with
water to produce diphosphane (P2H4), which is flammable in air.

Mg3P2 + wH2O  xMg(OH)2 + yP2H4 + zH2

Which of the following combinations is correct?

wxyz
A 3322
B 3211
C 6222
D 6311

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 58

Unit Exercise (p.60)


14 Which of the following statements about both lead and copper is / are
correct?
(1) They react with acid and hydrogen is evolved.
(2) Their oxides can be reduced to metals by carbon.
(3) Their sulphates can dissolve in water.

A (1) only
B (2) only
C (1) and (3) only
D (2) and (3) only

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 59

Unit Exercise (p.60)


15 Here is a list of metals in decreasing order of reactivity. Q is an unknown
metal.
Na > Ca > Mg > Zn > Q > Fe > Cu

Which of the following statements is / are correct?


(1) Q reacts with cold water.
(2) Q reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid.
(3) Q displaces copper from copper(II) sulphate solution.

A (1) only
B (2) only
C (1) and (3) only
D (2) and (3) only

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 60

Unit Exercise (p.60)


16 Which of the following processes would give oxygen?
(1) Heating silver oxide strongly
(2) Fractional distillation of liquefied air
(3) Passing steam over hot iron

A (1) and (2) only


B (1) and (3) only
C (2) and (3) only
D (1), (2) and (3)

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 61

Unit Exercise (p.60)


PART III STRUCTURED QUESTIONS
17 Explain the following facts in terms of chemical reactivity.
a) Gold and silver are used to make jewellery.

b) Sodium is stored in paraffin oil.

c) Tin was used together with copper to make bronze in around 3 000 BC,
while iron was only used later in around 1 000 BC.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 62

Unit Exercise (p.60)


18 Zinc is extracted from an ore called zinc blende, which consists mainly of
zinc sulphide.

a) The zinc sulphide in the ore is first converted to zinc oxide.


i) Describe how zinc oxide is made from zinc sulphide.

ii) Write the chemical equation for the reaction in (i).

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 63

Unit Exercise (p.60)


b) Zinc oxide is converted into zinc. Zinc oxide and coke are fed into a
furnace. Hot air is blown into the bottom of the furnace.
Zinc oxide reacts with carbon monoxide in the furnace.
i) Describe the main way in which the carbon monoxide is produced in
the furnace. Write the chemical equation for the reaction involved.
ii) Write the chemical equation for the reaction between zinc oxide and
carbon monoxide.

iii) The reaction between zinc oxide and carbon monoxide involves
reduction.
What does ‘reduction’ mean?

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 64

Unit Exercise (p.60)


19 A list of metals in order of decreasing reactivity is shown below. X and Y
are unknown metals.
X
Na
Ca
Mg
Zn
Y
Fe
Cu
a) Will X react with cold water?

b) Will Y react with cold water?

c) Will Y react with dilute hydrochloric acid?

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 65

Unit Exercise (p.60)


20 X is an unknown metal. The table below gives information of some
reactions of the three metals, X, sodium and magnesium.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 66

Unit Exercise (p.60)


a) Suggest the name of metal X.

b) i) State TWO observations that could be made during the reaction

ii) Write the chemical equation for the reaction involved.

c) i) State the expected observations for the reaction between magnesium


and dilute hydrochloric acid.

ii) Write the chemical equation for the reaction between magnesium and
dilute hydrochloric acid.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 67

Unit Exercise (p.60)


21 The experimental set-up shown below was used to study the reactions of
steam with three metals: copper, magnesium and zinc.

a) Complete the table to show the observations for magnesium and copper.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 68

Unit Exercise (p.60)


b) A gas was formed in the reaction between zinc and steam.
i) Identify the gas.

ii) Draw a diagram to show how the gas


could be collected from the set-up
shown above.

iii) Write the chemical equation for the reaction between zinc and steam.
c) For safety reasons, this experiment would NOT be carried out with
potassium. Suggest why.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 69

Unit Exercise (p.60)


22 This question is about different metals.
The list below shows part of the metal reactivity series.

potassium more reactive


magnesium
aluminium
zinc
iron
copper less reactive

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 70

Unit Exercise (p.60)


a) Two thousand years ago, people were able to extract iron and copper
from their ores. They were not able to extract aluminium.
Suggest why they were NOT able to extract aluminium from its ore.

b) Uranium is between magnesium and zinc in the reactivity series.


State TWO expected observations when uranium reacts with dilute
hydrochloric acid.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 71

Unit Exercise (p.60)


23 The reaction scheme shows
how gas X can be produced
in two different ways starting
from zinc.

a) i) Name the white solid formed.


ii) Name gas X.
iii) Write the chemical equation for the reaction between zinc and steam.

b) i) Name the white residue.


ii) Write the chemcial equation for the reaction between zinc and dilute
hydrochloric acid.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 72

Unit Exercise (p.60)


24 A student tried to obtain iron via the
reduction of iron(III) oxide using the
set-up shown below.

A sample of iron(III) oxide and excess carbon powder were put inside the
crucible. After 20 minutes, all the oxide had changed to iron.
a) Suggest ONE way to show that a metal was formed in this experiment.
b) Explain whether carbon can be used to extract magnesium from

magnesium oxide.

c) Iron can also be extracted from iron(III) oxide by heating with aluminium.
i) Write the chemical equation for the reaction involved.

ii) Suggest why aluminium is NOT used as the reducing agent in iron
extraction.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 73

Unit Exercise (p.60)


25 Magnesium powder was
added to two different
solutions in beakers A
and B.
a) i) What would you observe when magnesium is added to beaker A?

ii) Write the ionic equation for the reaction that occurs.

b) What would you observe when magnesium is added to beaker B?


Explain your answer.

c) Deduce the order of reactivity of the three metals: copper, magnesium


and sodium. Explain your answer.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 74

Unit Exercise (p.60)


26 A student carried out an experiment to determine the order of reactivity of
the four metals: iron, magnesium, nickel and silver. Each metal was placed
in a solution of the metal nitrate of each of the other metals. The results are
shown in the table below.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 75

Unit Exercise (p.60)


a) When iron filings are added to a beaker containing silver nitrate solution,
a grey solid forms and the solution turns pale green.

i) Explain the reaction taking place in the beaker.

ii) Write the ionic equation for the reaction involved.

b) Write down the order of reactivity of the four metals from the most
reactive to the least reactive.

most reactive _ ____

_ ________
least reactive ________

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 76

Unit Exercise (p.60)


27 The following is part of the reactivity series:

a) Which of the metals have oxides which


are NOT reduced by carbon?

b) i) Choose a metal whose ion would react with zinc.


ii) Write the ionic equation of the reaction between the suggested ion and zinc.

c) Explain why sodium is more reactive than magnesium and aluminium.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 77

Unit Exercise (p.60)


28 Experiments were carried out to investigate the order of reactivity of four
metals: copper, manganese, tin and zinc. Each metal was placed in a
solution of the metal sulphate of each of the other metals. The order was
found to be: most reactive manganese (Mn)
zinc (Zn)
tin (Sn)
least reactive copper (Cu)

a) Complete the table of results from which this order was determined.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 78

Unit Exercise (p.60)


b) Write the ionic equation for the reaction between manganese and
copper(II) ion. Name the type of reaction that occurred.

c) Explain why experiments of this type CANNOT be used to find the position
of aluminium in the reactivity series.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 79

Unit Exercise (p.60)


29 a) The table describes the ease of reduction of some metal oxides with
carbon.

Put the metals in order of their reactivity. Put the least reactive metal first.
least reactive most reactive

b) Aluminium is extracted by the electrolysis of molten aluminium oxide.


Predict the products of this electrolysis at the positive and negative
electrodes.

(Cambridge IGCSE, 0620/32, Paper 3, Jun. 2016, 2(a)–(b))


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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 80

Unit Exercise (p.60)


30 Some experiments were carried out with four metals and their oxides. The
results are shown in the table below.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 81

Unit Exercise (p.60)


a) Put the four metals in order of reactivity.
most reactive

(1)
least reactive

b) In a practical lesson, a student added a few granules of X into a beaker


of cold water. The granules sank to the bottom.
i) Suggest what metal X could be.
ii) Write the chemical equation for the reaction between X and water.

iii) Draw a labelled diagram to show an experimental set-up for the


experiment, with the collection of the gas produced.
c) Suggest names for W and Y.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 82

Unit Exercise (p.60)


31 The apparatus in the diagram below can be used to show the violent
reaction between magnesium
and copper(II) oxide. Both
solids are in powdered form
and well mixed together.

After a few minutes of heating, a violent reaction occurs. Tiny brown specks
and a white powdery substance remain.
a) Write the chemical equation for the reaction that occurs.

b) Silver powder CANNOT be used to replace magnesium powder in


carrying out the above reaction. Explain why.

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Unit 11 Reactivity of metals 83

Unit Exercise (p.60)


32 With reference to the methods of obtaining copper, magnesium and
silver from their oxides, deduce the order of reactivity of these three
metals.
(HKDSE, Paper 1B, 2014, 4)

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