5.

Reactivity
5.1 Reactivity and displacement reactions
The reactivity series of metals
Displacement reactions
Key words
Reactivity
Reactivity series
Displacement reaction
The reactivity series:- It has the most reactive metals at the top and the least reactive at the bottom.
Questions
1 a) The metal lithium is missing from the reactivity list, suggest where it should be
placed.
b) Give your reasons for placing lithium in this position.
2 a) Platinum is a precious metal that is used for jewellery. Platinum stays shiny
for a long time. Where in the list would you place the metal platinum?
b) Give your reasons for placing platinum in this position.
3 Small samples of three metals, A–C, have been added to dilute hydrochloric
acid. Which metal is most reactive? How could you tell?
4 Write a word equation for the reaction between zinc and sulfuric acid.
5 Write the word equation for the reaction between magnesium and oxygen
Answers
1 a Lithium should be placed below sodium and above calcium.
b Lithium reacts with water more vigorously than calcium but less vigorously
than sodium.
2 a Platinum should be placed below gold.
b Platinum is very unreactive, it does not react with oxygen at all (it does not
tarnish).
3 Metal B is the most reactive. because the most bubbles are given off.
4 zinc + sulfuric acid → zinc sulfate + hydrogen
5 magnesium + oxygen → magnesium oxide
Displacement reactions

Iron nail with copper sulfate solution

Copper sulfate + iron → iron sulphate + copper

CuSO4 + Fe → FeSO4 + Cu
Displacement reaction:- A more reactive metal can replace a less reactive one in a salt.

If a copper nail was placed in a solution of iron sulfate there would be no reaction because copper is less reactive than iron. Copper cannot displace the iron in the iron sulfate.
Questions
Use the reactivity series to answer these questions.

6 Which is the more reactive metal: zinc or copper?

7 Can zinc displace the copper in copper sulfate?

8 Which is more reactive – silver or magnesium?

9 Can silver displace the magnesium in magnesium sulfate?

Answers

6 zinc

7 yes

8 magnesium

9 no