Chemistry - Extraction of Metals

When metals react with water, observations can be easily made. e.g. fizzing, effervescing, flame colour.

Order of reactivity:

• Potassium - lilac flame
• Sodium - yellow flame
• Lithium - red flame
• Calcium -
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Iron
• Copper

Magnesium does not react with water, but it does react with steam. Zinc is protected by a layer of oxide, which makes it unreactive, so it is used as a galvaniser for roofing, and buckets. Iron rusts with water. There is not reaction between copper and water.

All of the above are increasingly reactive with acid…