Chemistry revision year 9

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Metals and their reactivity

metals can be put in order of their reactivity with:

a.) air (usually oxygen) b.) water

c.) steam d.) dilute acids

A list of metals put in order of their reactivity is called the reactivity (or activity) series

1. Metals and air

Many metals tarnish(go dull) in air because they react with gases in the air. E.G. copper goes green because it reacts with CO2. The gas which reacts the most ,however, is oxygen and often metals from the metal oxide which causes it to tarnish.

The reaction Occurring

All the metals which react combine with oxygen from the air to form the metal oxide. Addition of Oxygen is called Oxidation.

METAL+OXYGEN---->METAL

OXIDE

Experiment to heat metals in air conclusion

potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium all ignited easily. Zinc only ignited in powder form. Iron and copper did not burn but did react.

Note: silver and gold will not change at all.

Note: Aluminium does not burn in air but it reacts with Oxygen on its surface to form a layer of aluminium oxide which prevents it from further reaction.

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