What do potassium, sodium and calcium form with cold water?

A metal hydroxide and hydrogen.

What is the test for hydrogen?

A lit splint gives a squeaky pop.

What is the general equation for a metal reacting with dilute acid?

Metal + acid → salt + hydrogen.

Why does copper not react with dilute acid?

It is below hydrogen in the reactivity series.

What is a displacement reaction?

A more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive metal in a compound.

Does silver displace copper from copper(II) sulfate solution?

No. Silver is less reactive than copper.

Write the word equation for zinc with copper(II) sulfate.

Zinc + copper(II) sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper

Why is a displacement reaction a redox reaction?

The more reactive metal loses electrons (oxidised) and the metal ions gain electrons (reduced).

How can you tell which of two metals is more reactive using acid?

The more reactive metal produces bubbles of hydrogen faster.

Metal reactivity and displacementIB MYP Chemistry: Flashcards

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Give the reactivity series from potassium to gold.

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Give the reactivity series from potassium to gold.: K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, (C), Zn, Fe, (H), Cu, Ag, Au.
Which two non-metals are included in the reactivity series for comparison?: Carbon and hydrogen.
What do potassium, sodium and calcium form with cold water?: A metal hydroxide and hydrogen.
What do magnesium, zinc and iron form with steam?: A metal oxide and hydrogen.
What is the test for hydrogen?: A lit splint gives a squeaky pop.
What is the general equation for a metal reacting with dilute acid?: Metal + acid → salt + hydrogen.
Write the equation for magnesium with hydrochloric acid.: Mg + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂
Why does copper not react with dilute acid?: It is below hydrogen in the reactivity series.
What happens to a metal when it is heated in oxygen?: It forms a metal oxide.
What is a displacement reaction?: A more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive metal in a compound.
Does silver displace copper from copper(II) sulfate solution?: No. Silver is less reactive than copper.
Write the word equation for zinc with copper(II) sulfate.: Zinc + copper(II) sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper
Why is a displacement reaction a redox reaction?: The more reactive metal loses electrons (oxidised) and the metal ions gain electrons (reduced).
How can you tell which of two metals is more reactive using acid?: The more reactive metal produces bubbles of hydrogen faster.

Exam questions on Metal reactivity and displacement

A teacher in Doha demonstrates the reactions of metals with cold water. She adds small pieces of potassium, calcium and copper to separate troughs of water. The potassium moves across the surface and burns with a lilac flame, the calcium fizzes steadily and the copper does not react.
Write the word equation for the reaction of calcium with water and state the test for the gas produced.2 marks
A student in Dublin adds equal-sized pieces of magnesium, zinc, iron and copper to separate test tubes of dilute hydrochloric acid. Bubbles form rapidly with magnesium, steadily with zinc and slowly with iron, and there are no bubbles with copper.
Write a balanced symbol equation for the reaction of magnesium with dilute hydrochloric acid.2 marks
Students at a school in Seoul investigate displacement reactions. They add 1.0 g of magnesium powder, zinc powder or iron powder to 25 cm³ of copper(II) sulfate solution in a polystyrene cup with a lid, stir, and record the highest temperature reached. A pink-brown solid forms in each cup.
State a hypothesis for the investigation, including a prediction of the order of the temperature rises, and give a scientific reason.3 marks

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Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).