Chapter 3 · Chemistry
Metals and Non-metals
Whether a reaction happens at all is decided by one ordered list. This chapter's live module encodes the real reactivity series and predicts products for any metal + medium pair.
Metal Reactivity Lab
Pick a metal and a reagent — outcomes, equations and observations come from the standard reactivity series (K Na Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Pb Cu Ag Au).
- Metal
- Zinc (Zn), reactivity rank #6
- Reaction occurs?
- Yes
- Equation
- Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl2 + 1H2
- Observation
- Brisk effervescence — hydrogen gas bubbles off steadily as the metal dissolves.
Formula sheet
Metal + oxygen
2M + O₂ → 2MO (basic oxide)
Al₂O₃ and ZnO are amphoteric — they react with both acids and bases.
Metal + water
M + H₂O → MO/M(OH)ₙ + H₂
K, Na react with cold water; Mg with hot water; Al, Zn, Fe only with steam.
Metal + dilute acid
M + 2HCl → MCl₂ + H₂↑
Only metals above hydrogen in the series react.
Displacement
More reactive M + salt of less reactive → new salt + metal
Basis of the reactivity series experiment.
Roasting / Calcination
2ZnS + 3O₂ → 2ZnO + 2SO₂ ; ZnCO₃ → ZnO + CO₂
Sulphide ores are roasted; carbonate ores are calcined.
Thermite reaction
Fe₂O₃ + 2Al → 2Fe(l) + Al₂O₃ + heat
Highly exothermic; used to weld railway tracks.