2. The Activity Series

3. How Do We Know If a Reaction Will Occur?!? The Activity Series tells us what will and what will not react ACTIVITY SERIES: a ranking of the relative reactivity of metals or halogens in aqueous reactions K Na Li Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Ni Sn Pb H Cu Hg Ag Au

4. How Does it Work? The activity series ranks the relative reactivity of metals. metals near the top are most reactive and will displace metals near the bottom. K Na Li Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Ni Sn Pb H Cu Hg Ag Au

5. look at the following reactions: Fe + CuSO 4  Cu + Fe 2 (SO 4 ) 3 Li + H 2 O  LiOH + H 2 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

6. Hydrogen in reactivity series: H displaced from acids H 2 given off when metal reacts with H 2 O – 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

7. Reaction of metals with dilute acids Metals react with dilute acids forming salt and hydrogen Zn + 2 HCl  ZnCl 2 + H 2