Chemical Changes
Reactivity Series:
The reactivity series lists metals in order of their reactivity towards
other substances.
Potassium
Sodium
Lithium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Carbon
Zinc
Iron
Tin
Lead
Hydrogen
Copper
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Metal Reactions:
Oxidation reactions – a reaction where a substance gains oxygen
and/or loses electrons
Reduction reactions – a reaction where a substance loses oxygen
and/or gains electrons
Metal + Oxygen Metal Oxide
e.g. sodium + oxygen sodium oxide
4Na + O₂ 2Na₂O
Metal + Water Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen
e.g. potassium + water potassium hydroxide + hydrogen
2K + 2H₂O 2KOH + H₂
Metal + Acid Metal Salt + Hydrogen
e.g. calcium + hydrochloric acid calcium chloride + hydrogen
Ca + 2HCl CaCl₂ + H₂
Displacement reactions – reaction where a more reactive element
takes the palace of a less reactive element in a compound.
e.g. aluminium + iron oxide aluminium oxide + iron
2Al + Fe₂O₃ Al₂O₃ + 2Fe
Oxidation is a reaction where a substance loses electrons.
Reduction is a reaction where a substance gains electrons.
A redox reaction is a reaction where both reduction and oxidation take
place.
Reactivity Series:
The reactivity series lists metals in order of their reactivity towards
other substances.
Potassium
Sodium
Lithium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Carbon
Zinc
Iron
Tin
Lead
Hydrogen
Copper
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Metal Reactions:
Oxidation reactions – a reaction where a substance gains oxygen
and/or loses electrons
Reduction reactions – a reaction where a substance loses oxygen
and/or gains electrons
Metal + Oxygen Metal Oxide
e.g. sodium + oxygen sodium oxide
4Na + O₂ 2Na₂O
Metal + Water Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen
e.g. potassium + water potassium hydroxide + hydrogen
2K + 2H₂O 2KOH + H₂
Metal + Acid Metal Salt + Hydrogen
e.g. calcium + hydrochloric acid calcium chloride + hydrogen
Ca + 2HCl CaCl₂ + H₂
Displacement reactions – reaction where a more reactive element
takes the palace of a less reactive element in a compound.
e.g. aluminium + iron oxide aluminium oxide + iron
2Al + Fe₂O₃ Al₂O₃ + 2Fe
Oxidation is a reaction where a substance loses electrons.
Reduction is a reaction where a substance gains electrons.
A redox reaction is a reaction where both reduction and oxidation take
place.
