Metal Reactivity Quiz

1. What does the ‘reactivity’ of a metal describe?

2. According to the reactivity series in the PDF, which is the most reactive metal listed?

3. Which is the least reactive metal shown at the bottom of the reactivity series table?

4. Name two non-metals often included in the reactivity series for comparison.

5. True or False: Metals high in the reactivity series react vigorously with water or acid.

6. Place the following metals in order of decreasing reactivity (most reactive first): Iron, Magnesium, Copper, Potassium.

7. Which metal is more reactive: Zinc or Iron?

8. Which metal is less reactive: Lead or Copper?

9. A metal’s reactivity is related to its tendency to do what with electrons?

10. Which group of metals (Potassium/Sodium/Lithium or Zinc/Iron/Lead) generally forms positive ions more readily?

11. What gas is typically produced when a reactive metal (like Potassium or Sodium) reacts with water?

12. Describe the reaction of Potassium with acid, according to the table.

13. Which metal reacts with water, but very slowly: Calcium, Magnesium, or Zinc?

14. Does Copper react with dilute acid according to the table?

15. Zinc reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid. What would be one visible observation?

16. Name the two products formed when zinc reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl).

17. Comparing Lithium and Sodium reacting with water, which reaction is more vigorous?

18. Which metal reacts more vigorously with dilute acid: Magnesium or Zinc?

19. True or False: Gold reacts readily with both water and acid.

20. What needs to be done to make Lead react with acid, according to the table?

21. Define a displacement reaction.

22. Will a reaction occur if Iron metal is added to Copper Sulfate solution? (Yes/No)

23. Explain *why* Iron reacts with Copper Sulfate solution.

24. What are the two products when Iron reacts with Copper Sulfate solution?

25. Will a reaction occur if Copper metal is added to Zinc Sulfate solution? (Yes/No)

26. Explain *why* no reaction occurs when Copper is added to Zinc Sulfate solution.

27. Which pair will react via displacement: (A) Mg + ZnCl₂, (B) Zn + MgCl₂?

28. Predict the products if Magnesium reacts with Zinc Chloride (ZnCl₂).

29. If metal X displaces copper from copper sulfate but not calcium from calcium chloride, where does X fit in the reactivity series relative to copper and calcium?

30. In the experiment with metal X (page 4), a brown solid formed when X was added to copper sulfate. What is this brown solid?

31. Define oxidation in terms of oxygen transfer.

32. Define reduction in terms of oxygen transfer.

33. In the reaction Iron + oxygen → iron oxide, what has happened to the iron?

34. In the reaction Iron oxide + carbon → iron + carbon dioxide, what has happened to the iron oxide?

35. Define oxidation in terms of electron transfer (OILRIG).

36. Define reduction in terms of electron transfer (OILRIG).

37. In the displacement reaction Fe(s) + Cu²⁺(aq) → Fe²⁺(aq) + Cu(s), which species (Fe or Cu²⁺) is oxidised?

38. In the displacement reaction Fe(s) + Cu²⁺(aq) → Fe²⁺(aq) + Cu(s), which species (Fe or Cu²⁺) is reduced?

39. When zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid (Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂), is the zinc oxidised or reduced?

40. Explain *why* zinc is oxidised/reduced in its reaction with HCl, in terms of electrons.

41. When an ionic compound like CuSO₄ dissolves in water, how can it be represented?

42. What is a ‘spectator ion’?

43. In the reaction Fe(s) + Cu²⁺(aq) + SO₄²⁻(aq) → Fe²⁺(aq) + SO₄²⁻(aq) + Cu(s), identify the spectator ion.

44. How is an ionic equation obtained from a full equation involving dissolved ionic compounds?

45. Write the ionic equation for the reaction: Fe(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → FeSO₄(aq) + Cu(s).

46. What does a half equation show?

47. Write the half equation for the oxidation of iron (Fe) to iron(II) ions (Fe²⁺).

48. Write the half equation for the reduction of copper(II) ions (Cu²⁺) to copper metal (Cu).

49. True or False: Solid metals are written as separate ions in ionic equations.

50. Write the ionic equation for the reaction: Mg(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → MgSO₄(aq) + Cu(s).

51. What is a metal ore?

52. Why can some metals like gold be found as pure elements in the Earth’s crust?

53. What method is used to extract metals that are *less* reactive than carbon?

54. Give an example of a metal extracted by reduction with carbon.

55. Write the word equation for the extraction of iron from iron oxide using carbon.

56. What extraction method is required for metals *more* reactive than carbon (e.g., Aluminium, Magnesium, Sodium)?

57. Explain why aluminium *cannot* be extracted from aluminium oxide by heating with carbon.

58. Can lead be extracted from lead oxide by heating with carbon? (Yes/No)

59. Name one metal, other than iron or lead, that can be extracted by heating its oxide with carbon.

60. In the extraction of iron (Iron oxide + carbon → iron + carbon dioxide), what happens to the carbon?

61. Which metal listed has the largest atomic radius according to Table 4: Potassium, Sodium, or Lithium?

62. The PDF suggests bigger atoms might be more reactive because they lose electrons more easily. Does Calcium (0.197 nm) fit this trend compared to Magnesium (0.160 nm)? (Yes/No)

63. Does Copper (0.128 nm) fit the trend of being less reactive than Iron (0.126 nm) based *only* on atomic size from Table 4? (Yes/No)

64. When lead oxide is heated with carbon, a gas is produced. What is this gas?

65. Why might the total mass of solid decrease when lead oxide and carbon are heated together?

66. In the reaction Cl₂(aq) + 2NaBr(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + Br₂(aq), which halogen is displaced?

67. In the reaction Cl₂(aq) + 2NaBr(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + Br₂(aq), are the bromide ions (Br⁻) oxidised or reduced?

68. In the reaction Mg(s) + CuSO₄(aq) → MgSO₄(aq) + Cu(s), is the magnesium (Mg) oxidised or reduced?

69. What is the electronic structure of a neutral magnesium atom (Atomic number 12)?

70. What is the electronic structure of a magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) after it reacts?

71. Based on the reactivity series, would you expect Zinc to displace Lead from Lead Nitrate solution? (Yes/No)

72. What is the general term for reactions involving both oxidation and reduction?

73. If a substance gains oxygen, it has been ______.

74. If a substance loses electrons, it has been ______.

75. Can Magnesium be extracted from Magnesium Oxide by heating with carbon? Explain briefly why or why not.