Year 9 - Science
The reactivity series for metals
Materials
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit examines the varying properties of elements, the reactivity series, and the role of carbon in metal extraction. It also explores catalysts and the properties of ceramics, polymers, and composites. Emphasis is placed on evaluating risks, using appropriate techniques, and interpreting data.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use experimental evidence to organise several metals in order of their reactivity.
Key Notes
- Some metals react with acid to produce a metal salt and hydrogen gas.
- Some metals react with water to produce a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
- Some metals react with oxygen to form a metal oxide.
- The reactivity series for metals shows how vigorously metals react, compared to each other.
- The higher the position of a metal in the reactivity series, the more vigorously it is likely to react.
Vocabulary To Learn
- reactivity series for metals: Shows metals placed in order of reactivity with the most reactive metal at the top.
- effervescence: When bubbles of gas are produced in a liquid; another way of saying a liquid is fizzing.
- exothermic: A type of reaction in which energy is transferred from the reactants to the surroundings e.g. combustion.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The reactant disappears during the reaction. Acids and metals react because the acid eats away the metal.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Some metals react with acid to produce a metal salt and hydrogen gas. Some metals react with water to produce a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'reactivity series for metals'
Shows metals placed in order of reactivity with the most reactive metal at the top. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: The reactant disappears during the reaction. Acids and metals react because the acid eats away the metal. Correction: Use word and symbol equations to reinforce the idea that during the reaction new chemicals are produced from the reactants. Demonstrate that metals less reactive than hydrogen will not react with acid.
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