The activity series and redox reactions
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Question
What is the activity (reactivity) series?
Answer
A ranking of metals from **most reactive** (top) to **least reactive** (bottom), by how readily they lose electrons.
Question
What is a displacement reaction?
Answer
When a **more reactive** metal pushes a **less reactive** metal out of a solution of its ions.
Question
The displacement rule?
Answer
A **more reactive** metal **displaces** a less reactive metal from a solution of its ions.
Question
Why is displacement a redox reaction?
Answer
Electrons are **transferred**: the metal is **oxidised** (loses e⁻) and the metal ion is **reduced** (gains e⁻).
Question
What does OIL RIG mean?
Answer
**O**xidation **I**s **L**oss, **R**eduction **I**s **G**ain — of electrons.
Question
Half-equations for Zn + Cu²⁺?
Answer
Oxidation: Zn → Zn²⁺ + 2e⁻; Reduction: Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu.
Question
Which metals react with dilute acid?
Answer
Metals **above hydrogen** in the series → give a **salt + hydrogen gas**. Cu, Ag (below H) do not.
Question
Metal + acid products?
Answer
**Salt + hydrogen** (e.g. Mg + 2HCl → MgCl_{2} + H_{2}).
Question
Which metals react with cold water?
Answer
The most reactive ones (K, Na, Ca) → **metal hydroxide + hydrogen** (e.g. 2Na + 2H_{2}O → 2NaOH + H_{2}).
Question
How do you compare two metals' reactivity?
Answer
Add each metal to the **other's salt solution**; the metal that reacts (displaces) is the **more reactive**.
Question
Is the reactive metal an oxidising or reducing agent?
Answer
A **reducing agent** — it donates electrons (and is itself oxidised).
Question
Evidence that displacement happened?
Answer
A **colour change** of the solution and a **deposit** of the displaced metal on the added metal.
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Topic 6.2 hub
Electron transfer reactions
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