Reactivity Series of Metals
Category : 10th Class
It is the arrangement of metals in a vertical column in the decreasing order of their reactivity. This is also known as reactivity series of metals.
\[K>Na>Ca>Mg>Al>Zn>Fe>Ni>Sn>Pb>H>Cu>Hg>Ag>Au>Pt\]
Advantages of Reactivity Series
Chemical Properties of Metals
More reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution.
e.g. \[Fe+CuS{{O}_{4}}\to FeS{{O}_{4}}+Cu\] (Iron is more reactive than copper)
(Blue) (Green)
\[Ag+CuS{{O}_{4}}\to NO\] reaction (Silver is less reactive than copper so it cannot displace it.)
Metals react with non-metals to form ionic compound.
e.g. \[2Na+C{{l}_{2}}\to 2NaCl\] and \[Ca+{{F}_{2}}\to Ca{{F}_{2}}\]
Ionic compounds are the compounds formed by losing and gaining of electrons.
e.g. \[Na+Cl\to \,\,[N{{a}^{+}}]\,\,{{[Cl]}^{-}}\,\to \,NaCl\]
Metals react with hydrogen to form metal hydrides. But only reactive metals like sodium, potassium and calcium form their hydrides.
\[2Na+{{H}_{2}}\to 2NaH\] and \[Ca+{{H}_{2}}\to Ca{{H}_{2}}\]
e.g. \[2Al+F{{e}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}\to A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}+2Fe\]
\[Al\to A{{l}^{3+}}+3{{e}^{-}}\]
Chemical Properties of Non-metals
\[S+2{{e}^{-}}\to {{S}^{2-}}\] and \[F+{{e}^{-}}\to {{F}^{-}}\]
(2,8,6) (2,8,8) (2,7) (2,8)
\[S+{{O}_{2}}\to S{{O}_{2}},\] \[{{N}_{2}}+{{O}_{2}}\to 2NO\] and \[{{N}_{2}}+2{{O}_{2}}\to 2N{{O}_{2}}\]
Here, NO (nitric-oxide) is neutral, while N0^ (nitrogen dioxide) is acidic.
\[{{N}_{2}}+3{{H}_{2}}\to 2N{{H}_{3}}\]
\[{{H}_{2}}+S\to {{H}_{2}}S\]
e.g.: \[2S+C{{l}_{2}}\to SC{{l}_{2}}\], (Sulphurs chloride) and \[{{P}_{4}}+6C{{l}_{2}}\to 4PC{{l}_{3}}\]
Non-metals act as oxidizing agent as they have 5,6 or 7 valence electrons. They can therefore accept electrons to complete their octet.
Properties of Metalloids
e.g. Silicon, germanium/ arsenic, antimony, tellurium.
Sulphur is burnt in air and the gas produced is dissolved in water. The solution will
(a) Turn blue litmus red
(b) Gives no colour with phenolphthalein
(c) Form salt and water with sodium hydroxide
(d) All of these
(e) None of these
Answer: (d)
The correct order of activity series is:
(a) \[K,\,\,Ca,\,\,Pb\]
(b) \[Ca,\,\,K,\,\,Pb\]
(C) \[K,\,\,Pb,\,Ca\]
(d) \[Pb,\,\,K,\,\,Ca\]
(e) \[Pb,\,\,Ca,\,\,K\]
Answer: (a)
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