Y10 topic 1: Metals & Rusting

Checklist

(d) Reactivity series Check

Students should:
2.15 understand how metals can be arranged in a reactivity series based on their reactions
with:
• water
• dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acid.
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.
2.17 know the order of reactivity of these metals: potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium,
magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold
2.18 know the conditions under which iron rusts
2.19 understand how the rusting of iron may be prevented by:
• barrier methods
• galvanising
• sacrificial protection.
2.20 in terms of gain or loss of oxygen and loss or gain of electrons, understand the terms:
• oxidation
• reduction
• redox
• oxidising agent
• reducing agent, in terms of gain or loss of oxygen and loss or gain of electrons.

Students should:
2.21 practical: investigate reactions between dilute hydrochloric and sulfuric acids and metals
(e.g. magnesium, zinc and iron)

Test on Reactivity Series

%=
 Reactions of metals

There are 3 reactions of metals that you need to learn!

1. Some metals react with oxygen in the air:

Metal + oxygen  metal oxide

magnesium + oxygen 

2. Some metals react with water:

Metal + water  metal hydroxide + hydrogen

sodium + water 

3. Most metals react with acid:

Metal + acid  salt + hydrogen

magnesium + hydrochloric acid 

magnesium + sulphuric acid 

magnesium + nitric acid 

Now carry out some metal reactions…………

 Putting the metals in order of reactivity

We can put the metals in order by comparing how violently they react with oxygen,
water and acid. The most reactive metal goes at the top and the least reactive at the
bottom. We can’t look at all the metals in the Periodic Table, instead we will look at;
magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper and iron.

1. Firstly we will see how they react with oxygen by burning them in the BLUE
Bunsen flame:

Metal observation rank

Magnesium

Iron

Copper

Write word equations for the metals that reacted:

Remember: metal + oxygen 

2. Now see how they react in cold water:

Ca Na Cu Mg K Li

Metal observation rank

Write word and chemical equations for the metals that react with water.

Remember: metal + water 

 The Reactivity of Metals

When choosing a metal to make water pipes you need to consider

whether or not the metal will react with water. Look at the diagram
and complete the sentences.

a The metal reacting with water is called

b The gas formed is called

c A better metal for water pipes would be

copper
because it does not react with __________________.
1 Some metals are more reactive with water than others.
a Draw lines to match up the sentence halves to describe reactions of metals with water.

Magnesium … melts into a ball and fizzes a lot on the surface.

Potassium … floats on the surface producing bubbles of gas.

Lithium … burst into flames.

Sodium … reacts very slowly producing a few bubbles.

b Write 1–4 in the blank boxes to show the reactivity of the metals. 1 is the most reactive.

2 Complete this word equation for the reaction of lithium and water.

lithium + water → __________ + .

3 Hydrogen is formed by the reaction of metals with water.

Tick () the correct box to show the properties of hydrogen.
True False
Hydrogen is a solid at room temperature.  
Hydrogen is a liquid at room temperature.  
Hydrogen is a gas at room temperature.  
Hydrogen puts out a burning splint.  
Hydrogen burns with a ‘squeaky pop’ when lit.  

5. Magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water but it does have a much more vigorous
reaction with steam. However, the products of the reaction are different. Do an internet
search to find out the products of each reaction.

Magnesium + water 

Magnesium + steam 
3. Find the order of reactivity for metals with HYDROCHLORIC acid:

Metal observation equation rank

Magnesium

Iron

Calcium

Copper

Zinc

Below is a mnemonic to help you remember the order of reactivity of the metals:

Make up your own version of this mnemonic to help you remember the order of
reactivity of the metals:

The Reactivity Series of Metals…

and their chemical reactions:

Complete these word equations:

Magnesium + oxygen 

Sodium + water 

Zinc + hydrochloric acid 

Iron + sulfuric acid 

Complete the chemical equation for the following reaction:

K + H 2O 
Displacement reactions of metals
We have now seen that we can put the metals in order of reactivity from the
most reactive to the least reactive and this is called the Reactivity Series.

If we have a reaction involving 2 metals we can predict the outcome of the

reaction by comparing the reactivity of the two metals.

The rule is:

A more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from its compound.

e.g. consider the reaction between magnesium and copper sulfate:

Carry out the following reaction: Put an iron nail in some copper sulfate
solution and leave for 5 mins then remove the nail using tongs

Write a word eqution for the displacement reaction taking place:

Displacement Reactions between Metals

A displacement reaction occurs when a more reactive

metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.
For example:

magnesium + zinc oxide  magnesium oxide + zinc

The magnesium is more reactive than the zinc so the magnesium displaces the zinc
from its compound.

1. zinc + copper sulphate 

2. lead + silver nitrate 

3. iron + lead nitrate 

4. copper + magnesium sulphate 

5. potassium nitrate + gold 

6. aluminium nitrate + sodium 

7. magnesium + silver nitrate 

8. potassium + lead sulphate 

9. sodium sulphate + calcium 

10. iron sulphate + calcium 

Investigating displacement reactions

2. Carry out the following displacement reactions on a spotting tile.
If a reaction takes place it will change colour etc.
Fill in the results table using Ö and X.

Metal Solution calcium magnesium zinc copper

Calcium sulphate x

Magnesium sulphate x

Zinc sulphate x

Copper sulphate x

Why is there no reaction between calcium and calcium sulfate or between magnesium
and magnesium sulfate?

Why is there no reaction between copper and calcium sulfate?

Why is there no reaction between zinc and magnesium sulfate?

Write word equations for the reactions that work:

 Do you understand the reactivity series?

1. Three unknown metals were placed in test tubes containing water:

a. Put the metals in order from most reactive to least reactive:

b. Identify the possible names of these metals.

c. Write a word equation for the reaction of metal X – as you identified in part b
– with water.

2. Metal C displaces metal B from its oxide. Metal A does not displace metal C
from its oxide. Metal B does not displace metal A from its oxide.

Put the metals in order of reactivity from most to least:

 Magnesium v the rest
Some displacement reactions also show OXIDATION and REDUCTION.
Magnesium is added to the following metal oxides:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJpq9e7ZCGY
Write word equations for the reactions
1.

2.

3.
These displacement reactions also show a loss and gain of oxygen:

Oxidation is when an element gains oxygen.

Reduction is when an element loses oxygen.
The oxidising agent is the substance that donates oxygen and is itself
reduced.
The reducing agent is the substance that accepts oxygen and is itself oxidised

Magnesium + zinc oxide  zinc + magnesium oxide

Magnesium __________ oxygen so it is being ____________
The other metals ________ oxygen so they are r____________.
The oxidizing agent is ________________
The reducing agent is _________________

Corrosion of metals

Metals that are exposed to the air will gradually lose their shine. This is
because the surface of the metal reacts with _______________ from the air
to form an oxide layer. This is called ____________________.

e.g. when tin corrodes:

Tin + oxygen  ________________ ____________________

Rusting

Iron is a metal that is used to make bridges, cars, buildings and railway lines.
When iron corrodes we say it __________________.

Iron only rusts if both _______________ and _____________ are present.

The equation for rusting is:

Iron + oxygen + water  ___________________________

Investigation: Find out if water and oxygen are needed to make iron
rust:

Diagram

Water

Oxygen
Any rust
after 5 days?

Conclusion - What conditions cause rusting?

Preventing Rusting

Firstly, remember the chemical name for rust is _______________________

and the word equation for rusting is:

Stopping the rust

Rust is a soft crumbly substance that degrades and weakens iron structures –
this is very dangerous! Rusting iron costs companies m___________ of
pounds every year.

To prevent rusting you have to exclude either _________________ or

________________ or both. There are two main methods:

1. The barrier method which means coating the iron with something
unreactive will stop iron from rusting. There are lots of different coating that
are used:

P____________________
O________________
P___________________
T___________________

These coatings act as a barrier to stop o____________ and w____________

attacking the surface of the iron.
Tin cans are actually iron cans with a thin coating of t___________ on the
inside surface of the can. Tin is an u________________ metal so it doesn’t
react with oxygen or water. The disadvantage of using a barrier method is
that if the barrier is SCRATCHED so the iron underneath is exposed then the
iron will r_______________.
2. Sacrificial Protection – where a more reactive metal
sacrifices itself and reacts with the water and oxygen instead of
the iron. Therefore, the more reactive metal c______________
and saves the iron from r_____________.

We also say the more reactive metal is o_________________ instead of iron.

Metals that are used in this way are m_____________ and

z_______________.

Sometimes a layer of zinc is sprayed onto an object – this is called

g______________.

Blocks of magnesium or zinc can be bolted onto the h_____________ of a

ship to stop the ship rusting.

The advantage of using sacrificial protection is that even if you

s___________ the surface and expose the iron this method will keep
working.

Investigating ways to prevent Rusting

We now know that oxygen and water are needed for iron to rust. If we
can keep these away from the iron then it can’t rust.

Look at some different coatings for iron and see which are best at
preventing rusting.

Iron nail + Iron nail + Iron nail + Iron nail + Iron nail + tipp-
magnesium zinc wire Vaseline plastic tape ex or paint
wire
Results

Conclusion

Stopping the Rust!

For each iron object shown below match up the best method of rust
prevention.

Paint Grease Galvanize Blocks of zinc or magnesium

Watering can and dustbin

Bridge
Bicycle chain

Hull of a ship and underground

pipes

What is Rust?

Study: Use P43 of your revision guide and your notes to answer these
questions about rusting:

1. What 2 conditions are needed for rusting to take place?

2. The chemical name for rust is:

3. The word equation for rusting is:

4a. Describe 3 different barrier methods that help to stop iron from rusting:

b. Explain why painting stops iron from rusting.

5a. Describe 2 metals that can be used in sacrificial protection to stop iron
from rusting.

b. Which metal is used to galvanise iron?

c. Why does bolting blocks of magnesium onto a ship’s hull stop iron from
rusting?

Y10 topic 1: Metals & Rusting Revision Checklist

Students should be able to: Revised
2.15 understand how metals can be arranged in a reactivity series based on their
reactions with:
• water e.g.
sodium + water 

2 Na + 2 H2O  2 NaOH + H2

• dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acid

e.g.
magnesium+hydrochloric acid 

magnesium + sulfuric acid 

2.16 understand how metals can be arranged in a reactivity series based on their
displacement reactions between:
• metals and metal oxides

Aluminium + iron oxide 

• metals and aqueous solutions of metal salts.

Remember a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its
compound:

Magnesium + iron sulfate 

2.17 know the order of reactivity of these metals: caesium, potassium, sodium,
lithium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold

Write a mneumonic to help you remember the order:

2.18 know the conditions under which iron rusts

2.19 understand how the rusting of iron may be prevented by:

• barrier methods =

• galvanising =

• sacrificial protection =

2.20 understand the terms:

• oxidation =

• reduction =

• redox = a reaction that involves both oxidation and reduction e.g.

Iron oxide + aluminium  iron + aluminium oxide

The iron is ____________ and the aluminium is ______________

• oxidising agent = the substance that donates oxygen and is itself reduced

• reducing agent = the substance that accepts oxygen and is itself oxidised.

e.g.

Iron oxide + aluminium  iron + aluminium oxide

__________________ is the oxidising agent

__________________ is the reducing agent

in terms of gain or loss of oxygen and loss or gain of electrons = not until the
next topic

2.21 practical: investigate reactions between dilute hydrochloric and sulfuric acids and metals (e.g.
magnesium, zinc and iron)
Know some observations for experiments such as:
 When magnesium burns there is a bright white light and a white powder
forms.
 When magnesium reacts with acid it fizzes, the magnesium disappears
and there is a squeaky pop with a lit splint,
 When lithium reacts with water it fizzes, floats and moves
 When sodium reacts with water it fizzes, floats, moves faster and forms a
ball,
 When potassium reacts with water it fizzes, floats, moves very fast and
burns with a lilac flame