1. Activity Series
Foothill Chemistry

2. Single Displacement Revisited
Displacement of hydrogen in acid by metal (cations)
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq)  MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)
Displacement of halogens (anions)
2NaBr(aq) + Cl2(g)  2NaCl(aq) + Br2(l)
** Halogens can only displace halides if they are higher on the periodic table than the one that is being replaced.
Br2 + KCl(aq)  No Reaction

3. Metal Cation Displacement
In order to determine the potential products of a chemical reaction, one must know whether or not a chemical reaction will occur.
Similarly to the displacement of halogens, where their displacement depends on which anion is higher in the periodic table, metal cations depend on which cation is higher in the activity series.

4. Activity Series of Elements
Most
Least
Metals Li Rb K Ba Sr Ca Na Mg Al Mn Zn Cr Fe Cd Co Ni Sn Pb H2 Sb Bi Cu Hg Ag Pt Au
Nonmetals F2
Cl2
Br2 I2

5. Predicting Products of Chemical Reactions
Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq)  Cu(s) + ZnSO4(aq) Zinc is higher on the activity series, so it replaces copper Cu(s) + ZnSO4(aq)  Cu(s) + ZnSO4(aq) No Reaction so copper will not replace zinc

6. Salts
Metals will only replace other metals when they are higher in the activity series.
Cr(s) + ZnSO4(aq)  No Reaction
Cr(s) + FeSO4(aq)  Fe(s) + CrSO4(aq)
Mg(s) + CaCl2(aq)  No Reaction
3Mg(s) + Al2(SO4)3(aq)  2Al(s) + 3MgSO4(aq)

7. Application of Concept
Can we silver-plate a gold object by immersing it in a solution of silver nitrate? NO
Can we gold-plate a silver object by immersing it in a solution of gold (III) chloride?
Yes

8. Reactions with Oxygen
Elements at the top of the activity series rapidly oxidize
The lower the element is on the activity series, the slower it will be to oxidize
Platinum and gold do not oxidize.

9. Reducing Oxides
Some metals can be used to deoxidize (reduce) other metals.
6FeO(s) + 4Al(s)  2Al2O3(s) + 6Fe(s)
For Metals at the Top of the Activity Series, they must be reduced by electrolysis (application of an electric current) to remove oxygen
For elements carbon and above (aluminum from back of periodic table)
Some metal oxides can be reduced just by heating them (CuO, Hg2O)
Some metals are so low on the activity series that they oxidize only indirectly (Pt, Au, Ag)

10. Reactions with Water K, Na and Ca react with cold water
2Na(s) + 2H2O(l)  2NaOH(aq) + H2
Mg, Zn, and Fe do not react with cold water, but they do react with steam
Mg(s) + H2O (g)  MgO + H2
Cu, Ag, Au, and Pt do not react with water at all.
Cu(s) + H2O (g)  No Reaction

11. Reactions with Acids
The metals occurring above H2 on the activity series will replace hydrogen ions when reacted with acid.
Na(s) + HCl(aq)  NaCl(aq) + H2
2Al(s) + 6HCl(aq)  AlCl3(aq) + 3H2
Au(s) + HCl(aq)  No Reaction

12. Noble Metals Cu, Hg, Ag, Au, Pt Ag, Au, Pt Do Not React with Steam
Do Not React with HCl
Ag, Au, Pt
Do not React with HNO3
React With Aqua Regia
Aqua Regia = 3HCl + 1HNO3

13. Summary