The Activity Series

look at the following reactions: Fe + CuSO 4  Cu + Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 Li + H 2 O  LiOH + H 2 The activity series ranks the relative reactivity of metals. It allows us to predict if certain chemicals will undergo single displacement reactions when mixed: metals near the top are most reactive and will displace metals near the bottom. Q: Which of these will react? Fe+ CuSO 4  Ni+ NaCl  Li+ ZnCO 3  Al+ CuCl 2  Cu + Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 Yes, Fe is above Cu NR (no reaction) No, Ni is below Na Zn + Li 2 CO 3 Cu + AlCl 3 Yes, Al is above Cu K Na Li Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Ni Sn Pb H Cu Hg Ag Au Yes, Li is above Zn

H is found in reactivity series. H 2 may be displaced from acids or can be given off when a metal reacts with H 2 O The reaction with H 2 O depends on metal reactivity & water temp. K Na Li Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Ni Sn Pb H Cu Hg Ag Au cold H 2 O hot H 2 O steam acid

Reaction of metals with water Na,K and Li react violently with cold water 2Na(s)+2H 2 O(l)  H 2 (g) +2NaOH(aq) Ca reacts gently with cold water Ca (s)+ 2H 2 O(l)  Ca(OH) 2 (aq) + H 2 (g)

Reaction of metals with water Mg, Zn and Fe do not react with cold water but they can react with hot water or steam Mg + H 2 O  MgO + H2

Reaction of metals with water Metals below hydrogen in the reactivity series will not react with water examples include : Copper, Silver and Gold

Reaction of metals with dilute acids Metals react with dilute acids forming salt and hydrogen Metals on top of reactivity series are too active, it is Unsafe to add them to acids, they include Na, K, Li and Ca Metals from Mg till Fe react vigorously with cold acid producing salt and hydrogen Mg + H 2 SO 4 → Mg SO 4 + H 2

Reaction of metals with dilute acids Aluminum is slow to react because it has a layer of aluminum oxide covering it but it reacts vigorously on warming Zinc and iron react only with hot acids, the reaction is less vigorous than aluminum Metals below hydrogen in the series will not react with acids

MgCuZn Mg + AgNO 3  Ag+ Mg(NO 3 ) 2 NR Cu + AgNO 3  Ag+ Cu(NO 3 ) 2 Zn + AgNO 3  Ag+ Zn(NO 3 ) 2 AgNO 3 H 2 SO 4 Fe(NO 3 ) 3 CuCl 2 Mg + H 2 SO 4  H 2 + MgSO 4 Zn + H 2 SO 4  H 2 + ZnSO 4 Mg+ Fe(NO 3 ) 3  Fe+ Mg(NO 3 ) 2 Zn+ Fe(NO 3 ) 3  Fe+ Zn(NO 3 ) 2 Mg + CuCl 2  Cu + MgCl 2 Zn + CuCl 2  Cu + ZnCl 2