TOPIC-14

Reactivity series
Metal Displacement Reactions:
The reactivity of metals decreases down the reactivity series.
 Reaction in which a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its
compound, is known as displacement reaction.
 This is easily seen as the more reactive metal slowly disappears from the solution,
displacing the less reactive metal.

 Reacting a metal with a metal oxide (by heating).

Zn + CuO → ZnO + Cu
zinc + copper (II) oxide → zinc oxide + copper

 The reactivity between two metals can be compared using displacement reactions
in salt solutions of one of the metals.

For example, magnesium is a reactive metal and can displace copper from copper
(II)sulphate solution.
Mg + CuSO4 → MgSO4 + Cu

(The blue colour of the CuSO4 solution fades as colourless magnesium sulfate solution
is formed. Pink-brown Copper falls to the bottom of the beaker.)

EXTRACTION OF METALS:
o Metals above carbon is extracted by the process of electrolysis.
 o Metals below carbon are extracted by the process of carbon extraction. For
example: Zinc oxide + carbon Carbon dioxide + zinc
More Examples of displacement reactions:

OXIDATION & REDUCTION (REDOX REACTION)

Oxidation and Reduction with respect to Oxygen Transfer:

 Oxidation is the gain of oxygen.
 Reduction is the loss of oxygen.

Oxidation and Reduction with respect to Electron Transfer:

 Oxidation is loss of electrons
 Reduction is gain of electrons
 Oxidation and reduction take place together at the same time in the same reaction. These
are called redox reactions.

Oxidizing agent

 A substance that oxidizes another substance, in so doing becoming itself reduced.

Reducing agent

 A substance that reduces another substance, in so doing becoming itself oxidized.

IONIC EQUATIONS

Writing ionic equations for common reactions: Use the method above to practice writing
ionic equations for the common aqueous reactions.

 The equation must be balanced, whereby the number of atoms of each element remains
the same before and after the reaction.
 In aqueous solutions ionic compounds dissociate into their ions.
 The ions that do not take part in the reaction are called spectator ions. Spectator ions are
cancelled out.
 An ionic equation shows only the ions or other particles taking part in a reaction, and not
the spectator ion.

Worked example 1
1. Balance the following equation

zinc + copper (II) sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper

2. Write down the ionic equation for the above reaction

Answer 1:

Step 1: To balance the equation, write out the symbol equation showing reactants and
products

Zn + CuSO4 → ZnSO4 + Cu

Step 2: Count the numbers of atoms in each reactant and product. The equation is already
balanced.
Answer 2:

Step 1: The full chemical equation for the reaction is

Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)

Step 2: Break down reactants into their respective ions

Zn (s) + Cu2+ + SO42- (aq) → Zn2++ SO42- (aq) + Cu (s)

Step 3: Cancel the spectator ions on both sides to give the net ionic equation

Zn (s) + Cu2+ + SO42- (aq) → Zn2++ SO42- (aq) + Cu (s)

Zn (s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Cu (s)

The oxidation half-reaction can be written as Zn → Zn2+ + 2e–

Th e reduction half-reaction can be written as Cu2+ + 2e– → Cu

Worked example 2

1. Balance the following equation

Potassium + sodium carbonate → potassium carbonate + sodium

2. Write down the ionic equation for the above reaction

Answer 1:

Step 1: To balance the equation, write out the symbol equation showing reactants and
products

K + Na2CO3 → K2CO3 + Na

Step 2: Count the numbers of atoms in each reactant and product. The equation is already
balanced.
 2K + Na2CO3 → K2CO3 + 2Na

Answer 2:

Step 1: The full chemical equation for the reaction is

2K (s) + Na2CO3 (aq) → K2CO3 (aq) + 2Na(s)

Step 2: Break down reactants into their respective ions

2K (s) + 2Na1+ + CO32- (aq) → 2K1++ CO32- (aq) + 2Na (s)

Step 3: Cancel the spectator ions on both sides to give the net ionic equation

2K (s) + 2Na1+ + CO32- (aq) → 2K1++ CO32- (aq) + 2Na (s)

2K (s) + 2Na1+ (aq)→ 2K1+ (aq)+ 2Na (s)

 Write the half ionic equations and mention oxidizing and reducing agents.

Reactions of metals with water, steam & acid:

 If a metal reacts with cold water, the metal hydroxide and hydrogen are formed.
 Metal + cold water  metal hydroxide + hydrogen
 If a metal reacts with steam, the metal oxide and hydrogen are formed.
Metal + steam  metal oxide + hydrogen

Metals Reaction with water Reaction with acid

Potassium  Potassium+ water potassium Very violent and explosive
hydroxide+ hydrogen reaction.
2K + 2H2O  2KOH + H2
 Reacts violently with cold water.
 Fizzing can be seen due to the
production of hydrogen.

Sodium  Sodium+ water  sodium hydroxide + Very violent and explosive

hydrogen reaction with cold acid.
2Na + 2H2O  2NaOH + H2
• Fizzing can be seen.
• Sodium gets smaller and eventually
disappears.

Lithium  Lithium+ water  lithium hydroxide+ Violent reaction with cold

hydrogen acid.
2Li + 2H2O  2LiOH + H2
• Very slow reaction.
• Little fizzing can be seen.

Calcium  calcium+ water  calcium hydroxide + Rapid reaction with cold

hydrogen acid, produces lots of fizzing
Ca + 2H2O  Ca(OH)2 + H2 due to hydrogen gas
 Calcium reacts gently with cold water. production.
 The grey granules of calcium sink, but
are carried back to the surface again as
bubbles of hydrogen are formed around
them.
 The mixture becomes warm as heat is
produced.
 Calcium hydroxide isn't very soluble in
water.
 Some of it dissolves to give a colourless
solution, but most of it is left as a white,
insoluble solid.

Magnesium Magnesium with cold water  Reacts vigorously with

 Magnesium + water  magnesium cold acid and produces
hydroxide + hydrogen lots of fizzing.
Mg + H2O  MgOH + H2  The hydrogen gas
 There is almost no reaction with cold produced gave a
 water. squeaky pop with a
 If the magnesium is very clean, a few lighted splint.
bubbles of hydrogen form on it, but the
reaction soon stops again.
 This is because the magnesium becomes
coated with insoluble magnesium
hydroxide, which prevents any more
water coming into contact with the
magnesium.
Magnesium with steam
 Magnesium + steam  magnesium oxide
+ hydrogen
Mg + H2O  MgO + H2
 In a test tube a mineral wool soaked in
water is placed at one end and
magnesium ribbon is placed in the
middle.
 Heat is applied to the centre of the test
tube which causes water in wool to
evaporate and turn into steam.
 As the steam travels along the tube to
get into contact with magnesium, the
magnesium burns with a bright white
flame in the steam, producing hydrogen.
 White magnesium oxide is formed.

Aluminium  Aluminium + steam  Aluminium oxide +  Aluminium reacts with

hydrogen normal acid steadily but
2Al + 3H2O  Al2O3 + 3H2 the reaction soon stops.
 When aluminium reacts with steam, it  Aluminium forms a thin
forms a thick oxide layer of aluminium tough layer of aluminium
oxide. oxide on its surface.
 Aluminium oxide is white in colour.  This prevents further
penetration of acid and
the reaction stops.
 Reacting it with warm
acid helps to break down
the tough layer and the
acid can react again with
aluminium.
Zinc  Zinc + steam  zinc oxide + hydrogen  Steady reaction with
Zn + H2O  ZnO + H2 normal acid but fast
 In a test tube a mineral wool soaked in reaction with warm acid.
water is placed at one end and  Fizzing.
powdered zinc is placed in the middle.
 Heat is applied to the centre of the test
 tube which causes water in wool to
evaporate and turn into steam.
 As the steam travels along the tube to
get into contact with zinc, zinc oxide is
formed.
 Zinc oxide is yellow when it is hot, but
white on cooling.

Iron  Iron + steam  Tri-iron Tetra oxide +  Slow fizzing with normal
hydrogen acid but fast reaction
3Fe + 4H2O  Fe3O4 + 4H2 with warm acid.
 In a test tube a mineral wool soaked in
water is placed at one end and
powdered iron is placed in the middle.
 Heat is applied to the centre of the test
tube which causes water in wool to
evaporate and turn into steam.
 As the steam travels along the tube to
get into contact with iron, the iron
becomes slightly darker grey.
 A complicated oxide is formed, called tri-
iron tetroxide, Fe304.

Copper No reaction with cold water or steam. No reaction with acid.

Silver No reaction with cold water or steam. No reaction with acid.
Gold No reaction with cold water or steam. No reaction with acid.

RUSTING

The conditions under which iron rusts:

● Both air and water are necessary for iron to rust – i.e. oxidation – gain of oxygen
results in corrosion

Rust is Hydrated Iron (III) Oxide.

● Rusting can be prevented by excluding oxygen and water e.g. by:

BARRIER METHOD:

 Painting on iron

 coating with plastic

  using oil or grease

● Galvanizing: coating with zinc.

As zinc is more reactive, it reacts with oxygen protecting the iron underneath.

● Sacrificial protection: where the metal you want to be protected from rusting is layered
with a more reactive metal, which will rust first and prevent water and oxygen reaching the
layer underneath.