POTASSIUM REACTIVITY SERIES

It is easier to lose valence electrons and thus be more reactive, if: The more reactive a metal is, the more easily it loses its valence electrons. We can see that the more reactive metal, zinc, has lost electrons and the less reactive metal, copper, has gained electrons. Zn(s) – 2e-–> Zn2+(aq) the zinc oxidised (lost electrons)Ĭu2+(aq) + 2e-–> Cu(s) the copper reduced (gained electrons) Here, the zinc, being the more reactive metal, has clearly displaced copper to form zinc sulfate Zinc + Copper(II)sulfate -–> zinc sulfate + copper Let’s take another example, with an aqueous solution, and see how the metal ions form:

POTASSIUM REACTIVITY SERIES

This happened because aluminium is higher in the reactivity series than iron i.e. In the above, reaction the aluminium displaced the iron (think of it as ‘the aluminium stole the oxide and the iron was left alone’). Iron(III) oxide + aluminium -> iron + aluminium oxide Metals can also ‘compete’ in a similar way. We call this type of a reaction a displacement reaction. We can see this is a competition to see which halogen combines best with the metal.

Previosuly, we saw that a more reactive halogen will replace a less reactive halogen in a metal halide. the aqueous ions of other listed metals.Compare the reactivity series to the tendency of a metal to form its positive ion, illustrated by its reaction, if any, with:.This is the reactivity series, from most reactive to least reactive (and a mnemonic to remember it!) : Only metals above hydrogen will react with water/steam and hydrochloric acid. We can see that the the above elements are put in their order of reactivity- the more reactive on the top (potassium, sodium, calcium etc) and the least reactive on the bottom (iron, hydrogen, copper). Reaction of metals and hydrogen with dilute (hydrochloric) acid: Reaction of metals and hydrogen with water or steam: We can put metals in order of their reactivity by investigating how well they react with water or hydrochloric acid. dilute hydrochloric acid (except for alkali metals).Place in order of reactivity: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, hydrogen and copper, by reference to the reactions, if any, of the elements with:.We apologise for the inconvenience, but hope that the new images will provide you with an even better learning experience. Disclaimer: Due to unforeseen difficulties, we have had to take down the images on this notes page.

Potassium reactivity