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The reactivity series and displacement
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Some metals react violently and others hardly at all. Putting them in order helps us predict reactions and extract metals.
The reactivity series
Metals listed from most to least reactive. Carbon and hydrogen are included for comparison.
Displacement
A more reactive metal displaces (pushes out) a less reactive metal from its compound.
iron + copper sulfate → iron sulfate + copper
The iron nail gets a pink-brown coat of copper, and the blue solution fades.
If the metal is less reactive, nothing happens: copper + iron sulfate → no reaction.
Metals above hydrogen react with dilute acids to give a salt and hydrogen; the more reactive, the faster the fizzing.
iron + copper sulfate → iron sulfate + copper
The iron nail gets a pink-brown coat of copper, and the blue solution fades.
If the metal is less reactive, nothing happens: copper + iron sulfate → no reaction.
Metals above hydrogen react with dilute acids to give a salt and hydrogen; the more reactive, the faster the fizzing.
Extracting metals with carbon
Most metals are found in rocks as compounds, such as oxides, in ores.
Metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted by heating the oxide with carbon. Carbon takes the oxygen away (the metal oxide is reduced).
iron oxide + carbon → iron + carbon dioxide
copper oxide + carbon → copper + carbon dioxide
Metals more reactive than carbon, like aluminium, need another method (electrolysis), which you will meet at GCSE.
Metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted by heating the oxide with carbon. Carbon takes the oxygen away (the metal oxide is reduced).
iron oxide + carbon → iron + carbon dioxide
copper oxide + carbon → copper + carbon dioxide
Metals more reactive than carbon, like aluminium, need another method (electrolysis), which you will meet at GCSE.
Will zinc react with copper sulfate solution? If so, write the word equation.
- Zinc is above copper in the reactivity series.
- So zinc displaces copper.
- zinc + copper sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper
Answer: Yes: zinc + copper sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper.
Reactivity series: K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, (C), Zn, Fe, Sn, Pb, (H), Cu, Ag, Au. A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one from its compound. Metals below carbon are extracted by heating their oxides with carbon.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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