Chemical Changes - Reactivity of metals

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Oxidation and Reduction

  • Oxidation reactions - a substance often gains oxygen.
  • Reduction reactions - a substance often loses oxygen.
  • Oxidation and reduction always occur together.
  • Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides.
  • Metal oxides can be reduced by removing oxygen.
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The Reactivity Series

  • When metals react, their atoms lose electrons to form positive metal ions.
  • Some metals lose electrons more easily than others.
  • A metal is more reactive if it loses electrons more easily.
  • The reactivity series puts metals in order of reactivity.
  • Metals react with acids to produce metal salts and hydrogen.
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The Reactivity Series

  • Potassium, K
  • Sodium, Na
  • Calcium, Ca
  • Magnesium, Mg
  • Aluminium, Al
  • Carbon, C
  • Zinc, Zn
  • Iron, Fe
  • Tin, Sn
  • Lead, Pb
  • Hydrogen, H
  • Copper, Cu
  • Silver, Ag
  • Gold, Au
  • Platinum, Pt
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Displacement Reactions

  • Displacement reaction - A more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from a solution of its salt.
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Extraction of Metals

  • Extraction of a metal depends on how reactive it is.
  • Unreactive metals exist as elements at the Earth's surface.
  • Most metals are found as metal oxides, or as compounds that can be easily changed into metal oxides.
  • Metals that are less reactive than carbon can be extracted from their oxides by heating with carbon.
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Losing or Gaining Electrons

  • Not all reduction and oxidation reactions involve oxygen.
  • Scientists use: 
  •    Oxidation is the loss of electrons.
  •    Reduction is the gain of electrons. 
  • Oxidation
  • Is
  • Loss
  • Reduction 
  • Is
  • Gain
  • OILRIG
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