Class: O2

The Reactivity Series of Metals

 The Reactivity or Activity series Most K
Reactive Na
“is a list of metals with the most reactive metal at the Ca
top and the least reactive metal at the bottom” Mg
Al
 Reactive metals tend to form positive ions easily, by Zn

losing electrons and forming compounds Fe

Pb
-
H
Cu
M M+ + e-
Hg

Least Ag
Reactive Pt
 Unreactive metals prefer to remain in uncombined
form, as the element itself
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The Reactivity Series of Metals
Highly
Reactive

Moderately
Reactive

Least
Reactive

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The Reactivity Series of Metals
 The order of reactivity is worked out from the metal's
reaction (if any) with

 Water
 Steam
 Acids

 If there is a reaction, the metal displaces hydrogen

M(s) + 2H+(aq) M+(aq) + H2 (g)

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The Reactivity Series of Metals
Metal Metal with water/steam

K potassium react with cold water

Na sodium M(s) + 2H2O(l) → MOH(aq) + H2(g)
Ca calcium Metal + Water → Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen

Mg  They are stored under the surface of oil to prevent water vapour in
Al the atmosphere from reacting with them
Zn
Fe
Na(s) + 2H2O(l) → NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
Pb
H

Cu
Hg
Ag
Pt

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The Reactivity Series of Metals
Metal Metal with water/steam

K potassium react with cold water

Na sodium M(s) + 2H2O(l) → MOH(aq) + H2(g)
Ca calcium Metal + Water → Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen

Mg magnesium
react with steam
Al aluminium
M(s) + 2H2O(g) → MO(s) + H2(g)
Zn zinc
Metal + Water → Metal Oxide + Hydrogen
Fe iron

Pb
H

Cu
Hg
Ag
Pt

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The Reactivity Series of Metals
Metal Metal with water/steam

K potassium react with cold water

Na sodium M(s) + 2H2O(l) → MOH(aq) + H2(g)
Ca calcium Metal + Water → Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen

Mg magnesium
react with steam
Al aluminium
M(s) + 2H2O(g) → MO(s) + H2(g)
Zn zinc
Metal + Water → Metal Oxide + Hydrogen
Fe iron

Pb lead
do not react with water or steam
H hydrogen

Cu copper
Hg mercury
do not react with water or steam
Ag silver
Pt platinum

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The Reactivity Series of Metals
Metal Metal with water/steam Metal with acid

K potassium react with cold water violent reaction with dilute acids
Na sodium M(s) + 2H2O(l) → MOH(aq) + H2(g) M(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Ca calcium Metal + Water → Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen Metal + Acid → Metal Chloride + Hydrogen

Mg magnesium
react with steam
Al aluminium
M(s) + 2H2O(g) → MO(s) + H2(g)
Zn zinc
Metal + Water → Metal Oxide + Hydrogen
Fe iron

Pb lead
do not react with water or steam
H hydrogen

Cu copper
Hg mercury
do not react with water or steam
Ag silver
Pt platinum

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The Reactivity Series of Metals
Metal Metal with water/steam Metal with acid

K potassium react with cold water violent reaction with dilute acids
Na sodium M(s) + 2H2O(l) → MOH(aq) + H2(g) M(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Ca calcium Metal + Water → Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen Metal + Acid → Metal Chloride + Hydrogen

Mg magnesium
react with steam react with dilute acids with decreasing ease
Al aluminium
M(s) + 2H2O(g) → MO(s) + H2(g) M(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Zn zinc
Metal + Water → Metal Oxide + Hydrogen Metal + Acid → Metal Chloride + Hydrogen
Fe iron

Pb lead
H hydrogen Aluminium, although above iron and
do not react with water or steam

Cu copper zinc, reacts more slowly because of a

mercury
Hg
silver
protective
do not react with water or steam oxide coat on its surface.
Ag
Pt platinum

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The Reactivity Series of Metals
Metal Metal with water/steam Metal with acid

K potassium react with cold water violent reaction with dilute acids
Na sodium M(s) + 2H2O(l) → MOH(aq) + H2(g) M(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Ca calcium Metal + Water → Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen Metal + Acid → Metal Chloride + Hydrogen

Mg  The metals below hydrogen will react only with

magnesium
react with steam concentrated acids which react are with dilute acids
capable of with decreasing ease
Al aluminium
M(s) + 2H2O(g) → MO(s) + H2(g) M(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Zn zinc oxidizing
Metal + Water → Metal the metal first to Metal
Oxide + Hydrogen its oxide.
+ Acid → Metal Chloride + Hydrogen
Fe iron
 Such acids are concentrated nitric or sulphuric
acids
Pb lead Cu + 4HNO → Cu(NO3)2 + react
do not react with water or steam 3
2NOwith
2 +2H O
dilute2 acids with decreasing ease
H hydrogen

Cu copper
Hg mercury
do not react with water or steam react only with concentrated acids
Ag silver
Pt platinum

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The Reactivity Series of Metals
 There are many applications of the Reactivity Series.

 It helps to explain:

 the stability of metal compounds

 the displacement power of metals
 the methods used in the extraction of metals from their ores, etc.

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Questions????
1) List two metals that could be used for pipes to transfer dilute
sulphuric acid in a chemical factory?

2) Which metals react with cold dilute hydrochloric acid but not with
cold water?
Mg, Al, Zn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Sb

3) Write general equations for the action on metals of:

a. Dilute Acid
b. Water

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Chenab College Jhang