Transcript 16.c.Metal reactivity series - Gleneaglesunit1and2chemistry2012

Metal Displacement Reactions.
A metal will displace(take the place of) a less reactive
metal in a metal salt solution.
 For example,
iron + copper(II)sulfate iron sulfate +copper.
If a less reactive metal is added to a metal salt solution
there will be no reaction
 iron + magnesium sulfate no reaction.
 In these displacement reactions the metals are
competing for the non-metal anion.
In the above examples the non-metal anion is sulfate SO42-.

The order of the metals in the reactivity series
can be worked out by using displacement reactions.






For example,
tin would be seen to displace lead from lead chloride
but would not react with iron(II) chloride.
tin + lead chloride tin chloride + lead.
Sn(s) + PbCl2(aq) SnCl2(aq) + Pb(s)
tin + iron(II) chloride no reaction.
Sn(s) + FeCl2(aq)
Therefore tin must be above lead but below iron in the reactivity series.
Copper would be seen to displace silver from silver nitrate
but would not react with lead nitrate.
copper + silver nitrate copper nitrate + silver.
Cu(s) + 2AgNO3(aq) Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2Ag(s)
copper + lead nitrate no reaction.
Cu(s) + Pb(NO3)2(aq)
Therefore copper must be above silver but below lead in the reactivity
series.
Reactivity series


The reactivity series of metals is a tool used to
predict products in displacement reactions
The reactivity series is a chart of metals listed in
order of declining relative reactivity.
The reactivity series of metals is as follows.
Element
Symbol
Group Number
Potassium
K
1
Sodium
Na
1
Lithium
Li
1
Calcium
Ca
2
Magnesium
Mg
2
Aluminium
Al
3
Carbon
C
4 (Non-Metal)
Zinc
Zn
Transition Metal
Iron
Fe
Transition Metal
Tin
Sn
4
Lead
Pb
4
Hydrogen
H
Non-Metal
Copper
Cu
Transition Metal
Silver
Ag
Transition Metal
Gold
Au
Transition Metal
Platinum
Pt
Transition Metal