CHEMISTRY – METALS & REACTIVITY SERIES

REVISION WORKSHEET

SECTION A — STRUCTURED QUESTIONS

A1. A solution contains the aqueous nitrate of metal A. When metal B is placed in the solution,
metal B displaces metal A. The carbonate of metal A is a black solid. Metal C reacts with
cold water to produce hydrogen gas. Identify A, B, C. Choose your answer from this list:
Silver Calcium Copper Zinc

A is …………………………..…………… B is …………………..……………………
C is …………………………..……………
A2. Four metal strips have been exposed to polluted air. The results are:

Metal Moist air only Moist air with pollutant

Carbon monoxide (A) Sulphur dioxide (B)
Al Still shiny Still shiny Still shiny
Cu Small patch of green Coating of blue-green Coating of a black and
solid solid blue solid
Fe Coating of red-brown Thin coating of red- Thin coating of red-
solid brown solid brown solid

(a) What is the chemical name of the red-brown solid formed with iron? ………………………
(b) Aluminium is above copper and iron in the reactivity series, and yet did not corrode as fast as
the other metals. Give a reason for this observation.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(c) State whether the pollutants A and B have acted as reducing agents or as oxidising
reagents. ……………………………………………………………………………….
A3. The following table and observations gives some information about 5 metals.

Metal Method of obtaining metal

zinc reduction by carbon
magnesium electrolysis of chloride
iron reduction by carbon
copper reduction by carbon
silver heating of oxide
Observation 1: When excess powdered zinc is added to copper(II) sulphate solution, a pinkish solid
forms.
Observation 2: Addition of iron to aqueous copper(II) sulphate results in the blue solution changing
to a green colour.
(a) From the table and observations, deduce the order of reactivity of the metals
(from highest to lowest)……………………………………………………………….

(b) Write ionic equations, including state symbols, for reactions in observations 1 and 2.
SECTION B — ESSAY QUESTIONS
B1. (a) For each of the following processes, give its purpose and describe an application.
(i) sacrificial protection ………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(ii) electroplating …………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(b) (i) Arrange the following metals in order from highest reactivity to lowest
reactivity: Gold, aluminium, copper, calcium, zinc
………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(c) What observation would you get if calcium is added to copper(II) sulphate, CuSO4,
solution? Write an equation to describe the reaction.
Observation…………………………………………………………………………………….
Equation ……………………………………………………………………………………….

B2. (a) Explain whether metals and ionic substances conduct electricity for the same or
different reasons.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(b) Potassium and silver are both metals. Give one physical difference between these
metals and one chemical difference.
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(c) Explain why reaction A takes place while reaction B does not take place.
Reaction A Cu2+ (aq) + Mg (s) → Mg2+ (aq) + Cu (s)
Reaction B Fe2+ (aq) + Cu (s) → Fe (s) + Cu2+ (aq)
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
A1 A = copper, B = zinc, C = calcium

A2 (a) iron(III) oxide

(b) It forms a protective oxide coating which adheres well to the metal (whereas the
iron(III) oxide does not stick to the surface – but flakes off, exposing fresh surfaces).
(c) The metals have been oxidised, therefore the pollutants have been reduced, and have
acted as oxidising agents

A3 (a) highest reactivity → lowest reactivity : magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, silver
(Magnesium is the most difficult to reduce (requires electrolysis), therefore it is the
most reactive. Silver is the easiest to reduce, so it is the least reactive. Zinc is more
reactive than copper, thus it displaces copper from solution. Iron is more reactive
than copper and is oxidised to form the Fe(II) ion.)

(b) Observation 1: Zn (s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + Cu (s)

Observation 2: Fe(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Fe2+ (aq) + Cu (s)

B1. (a) (i) Sacrificial protection uses a metal to protect another metal by giving up its
own electrons, the other metal is not oxidised. The metal to be protected is
made into the cathode and the more reactive metal is made into the anode.
An application is the protection of an underground steel storage tank using
magnesium metal, which is connected to the tank.
(ii) A metal can be electroplated with another metal by electrolysis. The metal is
coated with a thin layer of metal which protects it from rust. An example is
the chrome-plated vehicle parts, coins, silverware.

(b) (Highest reactivity) Ca, Al, Zn, Cu, Au (lowest reactivity)

(c) Calcium, being the more reactive metal, is able to displace copper from solution, thus
deposits of copper metal are observed.
Ca (s) + Cu2+ (aq) → Ca2+ (aq) + Cu (s)

2. (a) Ionic substances do not conduct in the solid state because there are no free ions. Once
molten or in water solution, the ions are able to move, and can therefore conduct
electricity. Metals conduct through the movement of electrons which are delocalised
throughout the metal. Ionic compounds and metals both conduct electricity but by
different means.

(b) Potassium is a soft metal while silver is a shiny, comparatively hard metal. Potassium
readily reacts with water, while silver does not readily react with water.

c) For reaction A, magnesium is higher than copper in the reactivity series, so it will
readily give up its electrons, and displace copper from solution.
Reaction B does not take place since copper is below iron in the reactivity series,
therefore it cannot displace iron ions from solution.