Metal reactivity series based on reaction with oxygen:

• More reactive metals will remove oxygen from metal oxides

• Less reactive metals cannot displace more reactive metals than oxide metals

• A mixture of metal X and metal oxide Y

• The mixture burns or embers because displacement occurs meaning metal X is more reactive than metal Y

• No change because displacement does not occur means metal X is less reactive than metal Y

Metal reactivity series based on reaction with hydrogen:

• In addition to the reaction with carbon and oxygen, a series of metal reactivities can also be constructed based on the reaction of a metal with hydrogen

Example question:

A student burns a piece of magnesium tape in a gas jar containing oxygen gas.

This figure shows his observations.

a) Describe the observations shown in the diagram.

b) Write the equation for the reaction that occurs.

 Answer:

a) Magnesium burns brightly and very vigorous.

b) \(\begin{aligned} \quad&\text{heat up}\\ \text{Magnesium+oxygen}&\longrightarrow \text{Magnesium oxide} \end{aligned} \)

 Metal reactivity series based on reaction with oxygen:

• More reactive metals will remove oxygen from metal oxides

• Less reactive metals cannot displace more reactive metals than oxide metals

• A mixture of metal X and metal oxide Y

• The mixture burns or embers because displacement occurs meaning metal X is more reactive than metal Y

• No change because displacement does not occur means metal X is less reactive than metal Y

Metal reactivity series based on reaction with hydrogen:

• In addition to the reaction with carbon and oxygen, a series of metal reactivities can also be constructed based on the reaction of a metal with hydrogen

Example question:

A student burns a piece of magnesium tape in a gas jar containing oxygen gas.

This figure shows his observations.

a) Describe the observations shown in the diagram.

b) Write the equation for the reaction that occurs.

 Answer:

a) Magnesium burns brightly and very vigorous.

b) \(\begin{aligned} \quad&\text{heat up}\\ \text{Magnesium+oxygen}&\longrightarrow \text{Magnesium oxide} \end{aligned} \)