3B Reactivity of Metals Edrolo Study Notes

Metals vary in their reactivity
1
© Louise Lennard & Edrolo 2022
VCE CHEMISTRY
UNIT 1 AOS 1: HOW DO THE CHEMICAL STRUCTURES OF MATERIALS EXPLAIN THEIR PROPERTIES AND REACTIONS?
REACTIONS OF METALS
Reactivity of metals
Presented by Louise Lennard
2
What's in this lesson?
Study design dot point
• experimental determination of a reactivity Reaction of metals with acids1

series of metals based on their relative ability
to undergo oxidation with [water2], Reaction of metals with water2
[acids1][and oxygen3]
Reaction of metals with oxygen3
3
Reactions of metals with acids
Key takeaway Oxidation (n.)
A chemical reaction
Most metals can react with acids, to different degrees. where a chemical
• Metals tend to lose their valence electrons more easily than non-metals due to their species loses electrons.
lower ionisation energies. Corrosion (n.)
When some metals
The loss of electrons is called oxidation. react with gases in the
atmosphere (mainly
Example – hydrochloric acid and magnesium oxygen).
Recap:
The periodic table
(Part 2)
hydrochloric acid + magnesium à magnesium chloride + hydrogen magnesium

strip
2
**note that the atoms and ions are not drawn to scale
4
Reactions of metals with acids Hydrogen pop test (n.)
Test used to indicate
the presence of
General reaction Hydrogen pop test
hydrogen gas.
Hydrogen gas, H2, formed when an acid
General reaction for reactive metal with acid
(formula) reacts with a metal can be detected COBALT
acid + reactive metal à ionic salt + hydrogen gas by listening for a ‘pop’ sound when (Qualitative signs
a lit splint is placed at the top of a test tube. of a chemical reaction)
Colour
Odour
Bubbles
Appearance
or disappearance
Match (lit)
of a solid
Light or sound
Temperature change
Test tube with nitric acid Hydrogen gas Hydrogen gas reacts with
and solid Iron is released oxygen due to open flame
5
Reactions of metals with acids Ionic compound (n.)
A compound (salt)
containing one or more
Ionic compound cations with one or more
An ionic compound (a salt) contains one or more cations with one or more anions. anions.
Cation (n.)
A positively charged ion.
1 Periodic table of the elements 2 Anion (n.)
Examples – ionic compounds H He
A negatively charged ion.

1.0 4.0
hydrogen helium
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Li Be B C N O F Ne
Name Chemical formula 6.9
lithium
9.0
beryllium
10.8
boron
12.0
carbon
14.0
nitrogen
16.0
oxygen
19.0
fluorine
20.2
neon
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
sodium chloride NaCl 23.0 24.3
sodium magnesium
27.0
aluminium
28.1
silicon
31.0
phosphorus
32.1
sulfur
35.5
chlorine
39.9
argon
Did you know?
19
K
20
Ca
21
Sc
22
Ti
23
V
24
Cr
25
Mn
26
Fe
27
Co
28
Ni
29
Cu
30
Zn
31
Ga
32
Ge
33
As
34
Se
35
Br
36
Kr In chemistry, a salt
potassium nitrate KNO3 39.1 40.1
potassium calcium
45.0 47.9 50.9 52.0 54.9
scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese
55.8
iron
58.9
cobalt
58.7
nickel
63.5
copper
65.4
zinc
69.7 72.6 74.9
gallium germanium arsenic
79.0 79.9
selenium bromine
83.8
krypton
is an ionic compound.
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
magnesium sulfate MgSO4 85.5 87.6
rubidium strontium
88.9 91.2 92.9 96.0 (98) 101.1 102.9 106.4
yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium
107.9
silver
112.4
cadmium
114.8
indium
118.7
tin
121.8 127.6
antimony tellurium
126.9
iodine
131.3
xenon
Sodium chloride is one
55
Cs
56
Ba
57–71 72
Hf
73
Ta
74
W
75
Re
76
Os
77
Ir
78
Pt
79
Au
80
Hg
81
Tl
82
Pb
83
Bi
84
Po
85
At
86
Rn example of a salt.
calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 132.9
caesium
137.3
barium
178.5 180.9 183.8 186.2
hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium
190.2
osmium
192.2
iridium
195.1
platinum
197.0
gold
200.6
mercury
204.4
thallium
207.2
lead
209.0 (210) (210)
bismuth polonium astatine
(222)
radon
87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
lithium phosphate Li3PO4 (223)
francium
(226)
radium
(261) (262) (266) (264) (267) (268) (271) (272) (285)
rutherfordium dubnium seaborgium bohrium hassium meitnerium darmstadtium roentgenium copernicium
(280) (289) (289) (292) (294) (294)
nihonium flerovium moscovium livermorium tennessine oganesson
57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
ammonium Lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
(NH4)2CO3 138.9 140.1 140.9 144.2 (145) 150.4 152.0 157.3 158.9 162.5 164.9
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium
167.3
erbium
168.9 173.1 175.0
thulium ytterbium lutetium
carbonate Actinoids
89
Ac
90
Th
91
Pa
92
U
93
Np
94
Pu
95
Am
96
Cm
97
Bk
98
Cf
99
Es
100
Fm
101
Md
102
No
103
Lr
(227) 232.0 231.0 238.0 (237) (244) (243) (247) (247) (251) (252) (257) (258) (259) (262)
actinium thorium protactinium uranium neptunium plutonium americium curium berkelium californium einsteinium fermium mendelevium nobelium lawrencium
6
Reactions of metals with acids
Reactivity series
Reactivity series (n.)
A ranking of substances
based on chemical
reactivity.
7
Worked example
Zinc is a reactive metal. When zinc was added Sample answer:
to nitric acid, HNO3, bubbles appeared and the
zinc + nitric acid à zinc nitrate + hydrogen gas
zinc disappeared. The bottom of the test tube
felt warm to touch. When a lit splint was held Zn(s) + 2HNO3(aq) à Zn(NO3)2(aq) + H2(g)
over the neck of the test tube a ‘pop’ sound
was heard.
Write the word and chemical equation

for this reaction.
(2 marks)
Marking guide
Key criteria Mark allocation
Writes correct word equation 1 mark

Writes correct formulas for reactants and products 1 mark
Teacher’s tip!
In this case, the ionic salt formed was aqueous zinc nitrate 8
Zn(NO3)2(aq)
Multiple choice activity
Jack conducted a series of tests with different A. A pop sound heard when a lit splint
metals and sulfuric acid. placed at the neck of the test tube
Which of the following observations would containing the metal and acid.
indicate that a chemical reaction had occurred? B. The base of the test tube felt warm after
a metal and acid were mixed together.
C. The metal was observed to disappear.
D. All of the above.
E. I don’t know.
9
Multiple choice – Response
Jack conducted a series of tests with different A. A pop sound heard when a lit splint
metals and sulfuric acid. placed at the neck of the test tube
Which of the following observations would containing the metal and acid.
indicate that a chemical reaction had occurred? B. The base of the test tube felt warm after
a metal and acid were mixed together.
C. The metal was observed to disappear.
D. All of the above.
E. I don’t know.
10
Reactions of metals with water
Metal hydroxide
Metal hydroxide (n.)
An ionic compound that contains a metal cation and hydroxide ions.
An ionic compound
Hydroxide ions have the chemical formula OH-.
metal cations
and hydroxide ions.
1 Periodic table of the elements 2
Examples H
1.0
hydrogen
He
4.0
helium
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Li Be B C N O F Ne
Name Chemical formula 6.9
lithium
9.0
beryllium
10.8
boron
12.0
carbon
14.0
nitrogen
16.0
oxygen
19.0
fluorine
20.2
neon
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
23.0 24.3 27.0 28.1 31.0 32.1 35.5 39.9
sodium hydroxide NaOH

sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
39.1 40.1 45.0 47.9 50.9 52.0 54.9 55.8 58.9 58.7 63.5 65.4 69.7 72.6 74.9 79.0 79.9 83.8
potassium calcium scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc gallium germanium arsenic selenium bromine krypton
potassium 37
Rb
38
Sr
39
Y
40
Zr
41
Nb
42
Mo
43
Tc
44
Ru
45
Rh
46
Pd
47
Ag
48
Cd
49
In
50
Sn
51
Sb
52
Te
53
I
54
Xe
KOH 85.5 87.6 88.9 91.2 92.9 96.0 (98) 101.1 102.9 106.4 107.9 112.4 114.8 118.7 121.8 127.6 126.9 131.3
hydroxide rubidium strontium

55 56
yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium
57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78
silver
79
cadmium
80
indium
81
tin
82
antimony tellurium
83 84
iodine
85
xenon
86
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
132.9 137.3 178.5 180.9 183.8 186.2 190.2 192.2 195.1 197.0 200.6 204.4 207.2 209.0 (210) (210) (222)
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
magnesium 87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
Mg(OH)2 Fr Ra Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg Cn Nh Fl Mc Lv Ts Og
hydroxide (223)
francium
(226)
radium
(261) (262) (266) (264) (267) (268) (271) (272) (285)
(280) (289) (289) (292) (294) (294)
57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
Lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2

138.9 140.1 140.9 144.2 (145) 150.4 152.0 157.3 158.9 162.5 164.9 167.3 168.9 173.1 175.0
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103

Actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
(227) 232.0 231.0 238.0 (237) (244) (243) (247) (247) (251) (252) (257) (258) (259) (262)
11
Group 1 and Group 2 metals can react with water
Group 1 metals can react explosively with water. Going down a group lowers ionisation energy,
so it is easier to remove a valence electron.
Example Did you know?

You can use
2H2O(l) + 2Na(s) à 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g)
an acid-base indicator,
such as phenolphthalein,
to show the presence
General reaction for reactive metal with water (formula) of hydroxide ions
water + reactive metal à metal hydroxide + hydrogen gas in solution.
12
Group 1 and Group 2 metals can react with water
Group 1 metals can react explosively with water. Going down a group lowers ionisation energy,
so it is easier to remove a valence electron.
General reaction for reactive metal with water (formula)

water + reactive metal à metal hydroxide + hydrogen gas
13
Worked example
Lithium is a reactive metal. Phenolphthalein indicator was colourless when it was added
to a bowl of water. When lithium was added to the water, fizzing occurred, sparks formed, and
the lithium moved across the surface of the water and then disappeared. The water turned
from colourless to a bright pink colour.
Write the word and chemical equation for this reaction.

(2 marks)
Sample answer:
lithium + water à lithium hydroxide + hydrogen gas
2Li(s) + 2H2O(l) à 2LiOH(aq) + H2(g)
Marking guide

Teacher’s tip!
In this case, the metal hydroxide formed was aqueous lithium 14
hydroxide LiOH.
Sophie added potassium to water. Light was A. K(s) + H2O(l) à KOH(aq) + H2(g)
emitted, a fizzing sound occurred, the
potassium disappeared, and the water turned B. K(s) + 2HCl(l) à KCl(aq) + H2(g)
from colourless to pink due to the presence of C. 2K(s) + 2H2O(l) à 2KOH(aq) + H2(g)
phenolphthalein indicator in the water.
D. potassium + water à potassium
Identify the balanced chemical reaction when hydroxide + hydrogen gas
potassium was added to water.
E. I don’t know.
15
Sophie added potassium to water. Light was A. K(s) + H2O(l) à KOH(aq) + H2(g)
emitted, a fizzing sound occurred, the
potassium disappeared, and the water turned B. K(s) + 2HCl(l) à KCl(aq) + H2(g)
from colourless to pink due to the presence of C. 2K(s) + 2H2O(l) à 2KOH(aq) + H2(g)
phenolphthalein indicator in the water.
D. potassium + water à potassium
Identify the balanced chemical reaction when hydroxide + hydrogen gas
potassium was added to water.
E. I don’t know.
16
Reactions of metals with oxygen
Key takeaway
General reaction for metal with oxygen (formula) Misconception
Many metals can react with oxygen.
metal and oxygen à metal oxide Only iron rusts.
Deep dive
Example – magnesium and oxygen Metal oxide (n.)
• The loss of electrons is called oxidation. An ionic compound
2Mg(s) + O2(g) à 2MgO(s) containing one or more
• The corrosion of iron is called rusting. cations and oxide ions.
17
Metal oxide
Metal oxide (n.)
An ionic compound that contains a metal cation and oxide ions, O2-.
An ionic compound
1 Periodic table of the elements 2
Examples H
1.0
He
4.0
cations and oxide ions.

hydrogen helium
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Li Be B C N O F Ne
6.9 9.0 10.8 12.0 14.0 16.0 19.0 20.2
Name Chemical formula lithium

11
beryllium
12
boron
13
carbon
14
nitrogen
15
oxygen
16
fluorine
17
neon
18
23.0 24.3 27.0 28.1 31.0 32.1 35.5 39.9
sodium magnesium aluminium silicon phosphorus sulfur chlorine argon
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
sodium oxide Na2O K
39.1
Ca
40.1
potassium calcium
Sc
45.0
Ti
47.9
V
50.9 52.0
Cr
54.9
Mn
scandium titanium vanadium chromium manganese
Fe
55.8
iron
Co
58.9
cobalt
Ni
58.7
nickel
Cu
63.5
copper
Zn
65.4
zinc
Ga
69.7
Ge
72.6 74.9
gallium germanium arsenic
As Se
79.0
Br
79.9
selenium bromine
Kr
83.8
krypton
37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
85.5 87.6 88.9 91.2 92.9 96.0 (98) 101.1 102.9 106.4 107.9 112.4 114.8 118.7 121.8 127.6 126.9 131.3
magnesium oxide MgO

rubidium strontium yttrium zirconium niobium molybdenum technetium ruthenium rhodium palladium silver cadmium indium tin antimony tellurium iodine xenon
55 56 57–71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
Cs Ba Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
132.9 137.3 178.5 180.9 183.8 186.2 190.2 192.2 195.1 197.0 200.6 204.4 207.2 209.0 (210) (210) (222)
caesium barium hafnium tantalum tungsten rhenium osmium iridium platinum gold mercury thallium lead bismuth polonium astatine radon
87 88 89–103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118
calcium oxide CaO Fr
(223)
francium
Ra
(226)
radium
Rf
(261)
Db
(262)
Sg
(266)
Bh
(264)
Hs
(267) (268)
Mt Ds
(271)
Rg
(272)
Cn
(285)
Nh
(280)
Fl
(289) (289)
Mc
(292)
Lv
(294)
Ts
(294)
Og
57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
Lanthanoids La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
aluminium oxide Al2O3

138.9 140.1 140.9 144.2 (145) 150.4 152.0 157.3 158.9 162.5 164.9 167.3 168.9 173.1 175.0
lanthanum cerium praseodymium neodymium promethium samarium europium gadolinium terbium dysprosium holmium erbium thulium ytterbium lutetium
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103

Actinoids Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
(227) 232.0 231.0 238.0 (237) (244) (243) (247) (247) (251) (252) (257) (258) (259) (262)
18
Reactivity series
Metals also vary in their ability to react with
oxygen.
React with oxygen

to form oxides
Do not react with

oxygen under
normal condition
19
Worked example
When aluminium metal is produced by electrolysis, the aluminium reacts with oxygen
to form a protective layer over the aluminium metal.
Write the word and chemical equation for this reaction.

(2 marks)
Sample answer:
aluminium + oxygen à aluminium oxide
4Al(s) + 3O2(g) à 2Al2O3(s)
Marking guide

Teacher’s tip! 20
In this case, the metal oxide formed was aluminium oxide, Al2O3.
Luella noticed that her silver necklace had A. Ag(s) + 2O2(g) à Ag2O(s)
a dark coating on it. This was due to the silver
reacting with oxygen gas. B. Ag(s) + O2(g) à Ag2O(s)
Which balanced equation summarises this C. 4Ag(s) + O2(g) à 2Ag2O(s)

reaction?
D. silver + oxygen gas à silver oxide
E. I don’t know.
21
Luella noticed that her silver necklace had A. Ag(s) + 2O2(g) à Ag2O(s)
a dark coating on it. This was due to the silver
reacting with oxygen gas. B. Ag(s) + O2(g) à Ag2O(s)
Which balanced equation summarises this C. 4Ag(s) + O2(g) à 2Ag2O(s)

reaction?
D. silver + oxygen gas à silver oxide
E. I don’t know.
22
Summary
Key terms What’s coming next
Oxidation Metal recycling
Corrosion
Hydrogen pop test COBALT
Ionic compound (Qualitative signs
of a chemical reaction)
Cation
Colour
Anion Odour
Bubbles
Reactivity series
Appearance
Metal hydroxide or disappearance
of a solid
Metal oxide
Light or sound
Temperature change
General reaction for reactive metal with acid (formula)

acid + reactive metal à ionic salt + hydrogen gas
General reaction for reactive metal with water (formula)

water + reactive metal à metal hydroxide + hydrogen gas
General reaction for metal with oxygen (formula)

metal and oxygen à metal oxide
23
Image credits and further material links
Further material links:
• Page 7: Magnesium + Hydrochloric Acid Reaction – YouTube video
• Pages 12, 13: Potassium - Periodic Table of Videos – YouTube video
Image attribution:
• Page 1: Image used under Public Domain from pxhere.com
• Page 1: Image: Gold nugget (Australia) 4 © James St. John / flickr.com / CC BY-SA 2.0
• Page 1: Image by justinblake72 / Pixabay.com license
• Page 12: Image © Tavoromann / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
• Page 17: Image created by Stephen Barnes / Shutterstock.com
• Page 17: Image created by andregric / Shutterstock.com
Question sources:
• All questions written by Louise Lennard.
24
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permitted by law, the VCAA excludes all liability for any loss or damage suffered or incurred as a
result of accessing, using or relying on the content. Current and past VCAA exams and related
content can be accessed directly at https://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/.
We do our best to make these slides comprehensive and up-to-date, however

there may be errors. We'd appreciate it if you pointed these out to us!
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3B Reactivity of Metals Edrolo Study Notes

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3B Reactivity of Metals Edrolo Study Notes

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Metals vary in their reactivity

• experimental determination of a reactivity Reaction of metals with acids1

hydrochloric acid + magnesium à magnesium chloride + hydrogen magnesium

A negatively charged ion.

Write the word and chemical equation

Writes correct word equation 1 mark

C. The metal was observed to disappear.

D. All of the above.

C. The metal was observed to disappear.

D. All of the above.

sodium hydroxide NaOH

hydroxide rubidium strontium

calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2

89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103

Example Did you know?

General reaction for reactive metal with water (formula)

Write the word and chemical equation for this reaction.

2Li(s) + 2H2O(l) à 2LiOH(aq) + H2(g)

Writes correct word equation 1 mark

cations and oxide ions.

Name Chemical formula lithium

magnesium oxide MgO

aluminium oxide Al2O3

89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103

React with oxygen

Do not react with

Write the word and chemical equation for this reaction.

4Al(s) + 3O2(g) à 2Al2O3(s)

Writes correct word equation 1 mark

Which balanced equation summarises this C. 4Ag(s) + O2(g) à 2Ag2O(s)

Which balanced equation summarises this C. 4Ag(s) + O2(g) à 2Ag2O(s)

General reaction for reactive metal with acid (formula)

General reaction for reactive metal with water (formula)

General reaction for metal with oxygen (formula)

We do our best to make these slides comprehensive and up-to-date, however

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