2.16: Understand How Metals can be Arranged in a Reactivity Series Based on their Displacement Reactions Between: Metals and Metal Oxides, Metals and Aqueous Solutions of Metal Salts

DISPLACEMENT REACTION: A Reaction in Which a More Reactive Metal Replaces a Less Reactive One

s

REACTIVITY SERIES:

METAL	ABBREVIATION
MOST REACTIVE
POTASSIUM	P - Please
SODIUM	S - Send
LITHIUM	L - Lions,
CALCIUM	C - Cats,
MAGNESIUM	M - Monkeys,
ALUMINIUM	A - And
CARBON	C - Cute
ZINC	Z - Zebras
IRON	I - Into
HYDROGEN	H - Hot
COPPER	C - Countries
SILVER	S - Signed
GOLD	G - Gordon
LEAST REACTIVE

s
s

ARRANGEMENT OF REACTIVITY SERIES BASED ON DISPLACEMENT REACTIONS BETWEEN METAL OXIDES AND AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF METAL SALTS

s

Reactivity of Metals increases as you go up the Reactivity Series, therefore a Metal will only displace another Metal that is below it in the Reactivity Series

s

*REDUCING METAL OXIDES:

s

A Metal Oxide can be reduced by heating it with a Metal (the reducing agent) higher in the Reactivity Series

s

DEFINITIONS:

TERM	DEFINITION
METAL OXIDE	Compound of a Metal and Oxygen
REDUCTION	When Oxygen is removed from compound
REDUCING AGENT	Substance that carries out reduction

s

Example: Copper (II) Oxide

Copper (II) Oxide can be reduced by heating it with Magnesium. As Magnesium is above Copper in the Reactivity Series, Magnesium is more reactive so can displace Copper:

s

CuO (s)     +     Mg (s)      →     Cu (s)     +     MgO (s)

s

*Reducing agent in this reaction is Magnesium

s

Other Common Reactions:

MIXTURE	PRODUCTS	EQUATION FOR REACTION
Iron (III) Oxide and Aluminium	Iron and Aluminium Oxide	Fe2O3 + 2Al → 2Fe + Al2O3
Sodium Oxide and Magnesium	No Reaction	-
Silver Oxide and Copper	Silver and Copper (II) Oxide	Ag2O + Cu → 2Ag + CuO
Zinc Oxide and Calcium	Zinc and Calcium Oxide	ZnO + Ca → Zn + CaO
Lead (II) Oxide and Silver	No Reaction	-

s
s

*DISPLACEMENT OF METALS FROM THEIR SALTS:

s

Any Metal will displace another Metal from a solution of one of its salts if it is below it in the Reactivity Series

s

Example: Zinc and Copper (II) Sulfate Solution

s

As Zinc is above Copper in the Reactivity Series, Zinc is more reactive so can displace Copper from Copper (II) Sulfate Solution:

s

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

s

Other Common Reactions:

s

MIXTURE	PRODUCTS	EQUATION FOR REACTION
Magnesium and Iron (II) Sulfate	Magnesium Sulfate and Iron	Mg + FeSO4 → MgSO4 + Fe
Zinc and Sodium Chloride	No Reaction	-
Lead and Silver Nitrate	Lead (II) Nitrate and Silver	Pb + 2AgNO3 → Pb (NO3)2 + 2Ag
Copper and Calcium Chloride	No Reaction	-
Iron and Copper (II) Sulfate	Iron (II) Sulfate and Copper	Fe + CuSO4 → FeSO4 + Cu