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Class 10 Chemistry (India)
Course: Class 10 Chemistry (India) > Unit 3
Lesson 3: Reactivity seriesReactivity series
How does the reactivity series of metal help? How to remember it? Created by Ram Prakash.
Want to join the conversation?
Instead of using the mnemonic Copper, Mercury, Saves, Gold we could write Copper, Makes, Silver, Gold.(5 votes)
What are the principles of chemistry that determine which elements are more reactive?(1 vote)
Hey there!
A quick recall
An atom consists of protons and neutrons which
make up the nucleus and electrons which orbit
the nucleus in specific shells. (Think of our
solar system- the sun is the nucleus and the
orbit of different planets as shells...the
difference is that there can be more than 1
planet(electron) in 1 orbit.)
Basically, the valence electrons
note; no. of electrons in the last shell try their best to achieve an octet(valency), and
no. of shells(energy levels) determine how reactive an element is.
basically, the nuclear force exerted on the outermost electrons by the nucleus is an atomic scale understanding of reactivity.
As @Uma Chatterjee has mentioned, you will learn more about this later.
This is just a quick review,
Hope this helps!
Onward!(5 votes)
what happens when a copper rod is dipped into zinc sulphate solution?(1 vote)
Nothing becuase copper is below zinc in the reactivity series. :)(3 votes)
0:50onwards, we can take any salt of copper, right?
not just its sulphate
If sulphate is the best choice, why is it?(2 votes)- You can take any salt of copper, like nitrate, chloride, etc.
However, copper sulphate is an easily obtainable substance(blue vitriol). Other salts need to be prepared.
Also, copper sulphate when reacted with iron shows a distinctive color change. When an iron nail(grey) is dipped in a copper sulphate solution (blue) a brown coating forms over the nail (copper) and the solution turns green (iron sulphate).
Happy to help:)(1 vote)
- Can a reactivity table be made with respect to non-metals as well, considering electro-negative property as in metals( higher the electro-positivity higher its reactivity)?(2 votes)
- Yes, indeed. Well there is a reactivity series for non-metals too. It goes like Fluorine>Chlorine>Oxygen>Bromine>Iodine>Sulphur>Phosphorous(red)(1 vote)
But why do more reactive metals displace the less reactive ones? Is there something happening at the level of atoms?(1 vote)
This could be understood as the more reactive metals have a greater tendency to lose electrons and form positive ions when compared to less reactive ones, so they displace them.(3 votes)
- how can iron be more reactive than copper (At1:13)(1 vote)
The Reactivity of metals depends on their valence electrons. The more the valence electrons, more the reactivity. Now, if we see the electronic configuration of both the elements-
Iron - 2,8,14,2
Copper- 2,8,18,1
As we can see Iron has more reactivity because it as more valence electrons than Copper.
I hope this clears your doubt.
Do tell me if I am wrong, or you have any other doubt.(2 votes)
Although magnesium chloride doesn't have any chlorine molecule, why is its formula MgCl2 and not MG2Cl?(1 vote)- It does not have a chlorine molecule but has two separate non-bonded chlorine atoms to balance out the +2 charge of Magnesium.(1 vote)
Sir, Carbon is a Non-Metal, right? Then why is it shown in the reactivity series of metals?5:42(1 vote)- In a nutshell, carbon and hydrogen are involved in a lot of reactions. Going a little deeper you will find that they are also used to help extract metals from their naturally occurring metal ores.(1 vote)
gallium metal is how much reactive ?(1 vote)- Gallium is somewhat similar to Zinc in case of reactivity. But lesser than Aluminium. Why? Gallium is a fairly reactive element. It combines with most non-metals at high temperatures, and it reacts with both acids and alkalis.
Gallium and Indium do not react with water unless oxygen gas is present. And gallium is also amphoteric in nature.(1 vote)
0:50