UNIT 5 – NOTES

MNEMONIC

The reactivity series

contains METALS only

We must learn the series

using our MNEMONIC.
It will not be given in the
exam!

ALUMINIUM and LEAD needs to

be added to your book.

The metals had to prove their ‘power’ by going through THREE

TESTS!
They were reacted with: Oxygen, Water and Dilute Acid
 NOTE how K,
Na, Ca and
Mg react
with cold
water.
Reacting K, Na
and Mg with
ACID causes an
EXPLOSIVE
reaction.

NOTE how Ag and

Au do not react
with Oxygen,
Water or Dilute
acid

REACTION 1
METAL + OXYGEN METAL OXIDE
 2 DISPLACEMENT REACTIONS

Copper sulfate + Iron

STEP 1: Identify the METALS in the reactants

Copper sulfate + Iron _________ + ___________

STEP 2: RECOGNISE the more reactive metal of the two metals you
identified.

Copper sulfate + Iron __________ + ___________

The more reactive metal will ‘push out’ the less reactive metal and
take its place.

Copper sulfate + Iron Iron sulfate + Copper

 Eg 1: Aluminium + Iron oxide Aluminium oxide + Iron
Eg 2: Iron sulfate + Copper NO REACTION

Iron is the more Copper is less reactive

reactive metal
out of Copper than Iron, so it cannot
and Iron replace Iron from its
compound in solution.

Eg 3: Iron oxide + Carbon Carbon dioxide + Iron

An IMPOSTER!

Carbon is a NON-METAL. What is it doing

here?

Well, our ancestors discovered that CARBON

can displace iron about 3500 years ago.
 Hydrochloric acid - HCl
Sulfuric acid – H2SO4
Nitric acid – HNO3

ACIDS

chemical with Properties: turns blue All acids contain

pH less than 7 Sour, Corrosive litmus red HYDROGEN

 The pH scale runs from

0 – 14
 The pH of a solution
can be measured using
the Universal Indicator
 Acids have PH ranging
from 0-6
 Alkalis have PH
ranging from 8-14
 PH 7 is NEUTRAL
Hydrochloric acid makes
the salt CHLORIDE
Sulfuric acid makes the
salt SULFATE
Nitric acid makes the salt
NITRATE

REACTION 3
METAL + ACID SALT + HYDROGEN
Eg1: Calcium + Hydrochloric acid Calcium chloride + Hydrogen
Eg2: Sodium + Sulfuric acid Sodium sulfate + Hydrogen

The first name of the SALT

comes from the METAL in the
reactants.
The second name comes from
the ACID in the reactants.
 BASES &
ALKALIS
Properties:
chemical with turn red litmus
Soapy feel,
PH more than 7 blue
Bitter

INSOLUBLE
BASES/metal just BASES
oxides
 REACTION 4
NEUTRALISATION REACTION
BASE/ALKALI + ACID
Eg 1: Copper oxide + Nitric acid
Eg 2: Sodium oxide + Sulfuric acid
REACTION 5
METAL CARBONATE + ACID
Eg1: Magnesium carbonate + Hydrochloric acid
Eg2: Calcium carbonate + sulfuric acid
SALT + WATER
Copper nitrate + Water
Sodium sulfate + Water
SALT + WATER + CARBON DIOXIDE
Magnesium chloride +
Water + Carbon Dioxide
Calcium sulfate + Water +
Carbon dioxide