9.2 Reactivity Series & Corrosion of Metals

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YOUR NOTES
IGCSE Chemistry CIE 

9.2 Reactivity Series & Corrosion of Metals

CONTENTS
9.2.1 Reactivity Series
9.2.2 Explaining Reactivity
9.2.3 Rusting of Iron
9.2.4 Galvanising & Sacrificial Protection

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9.2.1 Reactivity Series YOUR NOTES


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Reactivity Series YOUR NOTES


The chemistry of the metals is studied by analysing their reactions with water and acids 
Based on these reactions a reactivity series of metals can be produced
The series can be used to place a group of metals in order of reactivity based on the
observations of their reactions with water and acids
The non-metals hydrogen and carbon are also included in the reactivity series as they are
used to extract metals from their oxides
Table of Metal Reactions

The reactivity series mnemonic


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Observations from the table above allow the following reactivity series to be deduced YOUR NOTES
The order of this reactivity series can be memorised using the following mnemonic 
“Please send cats, monkeys and cute zebras into hot countries signed Gordon"

You can learn the reactivity series with the help of a silly phrase
Reactions of Metals
Reaction with cold water
The more reactive metals will react with cold water to form a metal hydroxide and hydrogen
gas
Potassium, sodium and calcium all undergo reactions with cold water as they are the most
reactive metals:
metal + water → metal hydroxide + hydrogen
For example, calcium and potassium:

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Ca (s) + 2H2O (l) → Ca(OH)2 (aq) + H2 (g) YOUR NOTES


K (s) + H2O (l) → KOH (aq) + H2 (g) 

Reaction with steam


Metals just below calcium in the reactivity series do not react with cold water but will react
with steam to form a metal oxide and hydrogen gas, for example, magnesium:
Mg (s) + H2O (g) → MgO (s) + H2 (g)
Reaction with dilute acids
Only metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series will react with dilute acids
Unreactive metals below hydrogen, such as gold, silver and copper, do not react with acids
The more reactive the metal then the more vigorous the reaction will be
Metals that are placed high on the reactivity series such as potassium and sodium are very
dangerous and react explosively with acids
When acids react with metals they form a salt and hydrogen gas:
The general equation is:
metal + acid ⟶ salt + hydrogen
Some examples of metal-acid reactions and their equations are given below:
Acid-Metal Reactions Table

Reaction with oxygen


Some reactive metals, such as the alkali metals, react easily with oxygen
Silver, copper and iron can also react with oxygen although much more slowly
When metals react with oxygen a metal oxide is formed, for example, copper:
metal + oxygen → metal oxide
2Cu (s) + O2 (g) → 2CuO (s)
Gold does not react with oxygen
Deducing the order of reactivity
The order of reactivity of metals can be deduced by making experimental observations of
reactions between metals and water, acids and oxygen
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The more vigorous the reaction of the metal, the higher up the reactivity series the metal is YOUR NOTES
A combination of reactions may be needed, for example, the order of reactivity of the more 
reactive metals can be determined by their reactions with water
The less reactive metals react slowly or not at all with water, so the order of reactivity would
need to be determined by observing their reactions with dilute acid
Temperature change in a reaction can also be used to determine the order of reactivity
The greater the temperature change in a reaction involving a metal, the more reactive the
metal is

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9.2.2 Explaining Reactivity YOUR NOTES


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Explaining Reactivity YOUR NOTES


EXTENDED 
Metal atoms form positive ions by loss of electrons when they react with other substances
The tendency of a metal to lose electrons is a measure of how reactive the metal is
A metal that is high up on the series loses electrons easily and is thus more reactive than
one which is lower down on the series
Displacement reactions between metals and aqueous solutions of metal
salts
Any metal will displace another metal that is below it in the reactivity series from a solution
of one of its salts
This is because more reactive metals lose electrons and form ions more readily than less
reactive metals, making them better reducing agents
The less reactive metal is a better electron acceptor than the more reactive metal, thus the
less reactive metal is reduced. (OIL-RIG: reduction is gain of electrons)l
Example: Magnesium + copper sulfate
Magnesium is a reactive metal and can displace copper from a copper sulfate solution
Magnesium loses its electrons more easily and the ion of the less reactive metal, copper,
will gain these electrons to form elemental copper
This is easily seen as the more reactive metal slowly disappears from the
solution, displacing the less reactive metal
magnesium + copper sulfate → magnesium sulfate + copper
Mg (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → MgSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)
The blue colour of the CuSO4 solution fades as colourless magnesium sulfate solution is
formed
Copper coats the surface of the magnesium and also forms solid metal which falls to the
bottom of the beaker

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YOUR NOTES

Diagram showing the colour change when magnesium displaces copper from copper
sulfate
By combining different metals and metal salts solutions it is possible to come up with a
relative reactivity order
Metal Solutions Displacement Table

From this table we can deduce the order of reactivity:


Magnesium and zinc are both more reactive than iron but magnesium is more reactive
than zinc
Copper and silver are both less reactive than iron but silver is less reactive than copper
The order of reactivity of the metals tested can be therefore be deduced as:
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Mg > Zn > Fe > Cu > Ag YOUR NOTES


Reactivity of aluminium 

Aluminium is high in the reactivity series, but in reality, it does not react with water and the
reaction with dilute acids can be quite slow
This is because it reacts readily with oxygen, forming a protective layer of aluminium oxide
which is very thin
This layer prevents reaction with water and dilute acids, so aluminium can behave as if it is
unreactive

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9.2.3 Rusting of Iron YOUR NOTES


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Rusting of Iron YOUR NOTES


Rust is a chemical reaction between iron, water and oxygen to form the compound 
hydrated iron(III) oxide (rust)
Oxygen and water must be present for rust to occur
During rusting, iron is oxidised
iron + water + oxygen → hydrated iron(III) oxide
Investigating rusting
To investigate the conditions required for rusting, prepare three test tubes as shown in the
diagram
The oil in the 2nd tube keeps out air and the water has been boiled so that no air is left in it
The calcium chloride in the 3rd tube is used to remove any moisture in the air
After a few days, the iron nail in the 1st tube will be the only nail to show signs of rust

Diagram showing the requirements of oxygen and water for rust to occur: only the nail on the
left rusts
Rust prevention methods
Barrier methods
Rust can be prevented by coating iron with barriers that prevent the iron from coming into
contact with water and oxygen
However, if the coatings are washed away or scratched, the iron is once again exposed to
water and oxygen and will rust

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YOUR NOTES

 Exam Tip
Only iron or steel (an alloy made from iron) can rust. If any other metal oxidises in air
causing the metal to break down, you should say that the metal has corroded.

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9.2.4 Galvanising & Sacrificial Protection YOUR NOTES


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Galvanising & Sacrificial Protection YOUR NOTES


EXTENDED 
Iron can be prevented from rusting using the reactivity series
Sacrificial Protection
A more reactive metal can be attached to a less reactive metal
The more reactive metal will oxidise and therefore corrode first, protecting the less reactive
metal from corrosion
E.g. using zinc bars on the side of steel ships:

Diagram to show the use of zinc bars on the sides of steel ships as a method of sacrificial
protection
Zinc is more reactive than iron therefore will lose its electrons more easily than iron and is
oxidised more easily:
Zn → Zn2+ + 2e-
The iron is less reactive therefore will not lose its electrons as easily so it is not oxidised; the
zinc is sacrificed to protect the steel
For continued protection, the zinc bars have to be replaced before they completely corrode
Galvanising
Galvanising is a process where the iron to be protected is coated with a layer of zinc
This can be done by electroplating or dipping it into molten zinc
ZnCO3 is formed when zinc reacts with oxygen and carbon dioxide in the air and protects
the iron by the barrier method
If the coating is damaged or scratched, the iron is still protected from rusting by sacrificial
protection

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Exam Tip YOUR NOTES


 You maybe asked to explain why a metal is/is not suitable as a method of preventing

an iron/steel object from rusting. Remember that if it is higher in the reactivity series
than iron, it will be suitable for sacrificial protection as it will be oxidised instead of
iron. If it is lower in the reactivity series than iron, it would not be suitable as iron
would be oxidised, causing it to rust.

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