Reactions of Metals: GCSE Chemistry Quiz for Revision

Science Quiz - Chemistry - Chemical Reactions of Metals (AQA) (Questions)

Metals react with oxygen, water and acids in different ways. By comparing these reactions, you can build the reactivity series and predict which metals will react most strongly.

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Fascinating Fact:

Displacement proves the series, a more reactive metal pushes a less reactive metal out of its salt solution.

In GCSE Science (Chemistry), you study how metals react with oxygen, water and acids. Comparing these reactions lets you arrange metals into a reactivity series and predict which reactions will happen.

Key Terms

Reactivity series: A list of metals arranged from most reactive to least reactive, based on how easily they take part in reactions.
Displacement reaction: A reaction where a more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive metal in a compound or solution.
Oxidation: The loss of electrons by a substance during a reaction, often seen when metals react with oxygen or acids.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is the reactivity series of metals in GCSE Chemistry?

The reactivity series is an ordered list of metals from most reactive to least reactive. Highly reactive metals react quickly with water or acids, while less reactive metals may barely react at all.

How do you recognise a displacement reaction with metals?

You recognise a displacement reaction when a solid metal appears and a different metal disappears from solution. For example, zinc metal forming when zinc displaces copper from copper sulfate solution.

How do metal reactions help you predict if a reaction will occur?

If a metal is higher in the reactivity series than the metal in a compound, a reaction is likely because the more reactive metal can replace it. If it is lower, little or no reaction happens.

Try These Related Quizzes

Which of the following reactions does not produce hydrogen gas?

[ ]	Silver and citric acid
[ ]	Zinc and hydrochloric acid
[ ]	Magnesium and nitric acid
[ ]	Iron filings and sulfuric acid

What would be the salt produced in the reaction of iron and hydrochloric acid?

[ ]	Iron hydrochloride
[ ]	Iron chloride
[ ]	Chloro iron
[ ]	Iron chlorate

One way of producing copper would be to add which of the following metals to copper sulfate solution?

[ ]	Platinum
[ ]	Gold
[ ]	Carbon
[ ]	Iron

If you drop a piece of cleaned magnesium ribbon into a solution of silver nitrate, the magnesium becomes coated with a grey substance. What is the explanation for this?

[ ]	Magnesium is more reactive than silver and displaces the silver
[ ]	Magnesium is less reactive than silver and displaces the silver
[ ]	The magnesium reacts with the nitrate and is coated in magnesium nitrate
[ ]	Silver in silver nitrate is actually more reactive than magnesuim ribbon so the magnesium corrodes

Which of the following metals is displaced from its ore by using carbon?

[ ]	Iron
[ ]	Sodium
[ ]	Gold
[ ]	Magnesium

Which of the following combinations of chemicals is likely to be the most exothermic (gives out the most energy) when mixed together?

[ ]	Iron and aluminium oxide
[ ]	Magnesium and aluminium oxide
[ ]	Zinc and copper sulfate solution
[ ]	Magnesium and silver nitrate solution

What would you see if you added lithium to water?

[ ]	An explosion
[ ]	The metal fizzes and burns with a purple flame
[ ]	The metal fizzes, forms a molten ball and moves around the surface of the water
[ ]	The metal fizzes and moves around but doesn't melt

What would you see if you added potassium to water?

[ ]	An explosion
[ ]	The metal fizzes and burns with a purple flame.
[ ]	The metal fizzes, forms a molten ball and moves around the surface of the water
[ ]	The metal fizzes and moves around but doesn't melt

Why are ionic compounds formed when a metal reacts with a non-metal?

[ ]	One or more electrons are transferred from the metal to the non-metal
[ ]	One or more electrons are transferred from the non-metal to the metal
[ ]	All of the electrons are transferred from the metal to the non-metal
[ ]	They share a pair of electrons

10.

Which of the following would not be produced when lithium carbonate reacts with nitric acid?

[ ]	Hydrogen
[ ]	Water
[ ]	Lithium nitrate
[ ]	Carbon dioxide

Science Quiz - Chemistry - Chemical Reactions of Metals (AQA) (Answers)

Which of the following reactions does not produce hydrogen gas?

[x]	Silver and citric acid
[ ]	Zinc and hydrochloric acid
[ ]	Magnesium and nitric acid
[ ]	Iron filings and sulfuric acid

Silver is low in the reactivity series and citric acid is a weak acid

What would be the salt produced in the reaction of iron and hydrochloric acid?

[ ]	Iron hydrochloride
[x]	Iron chloride
[ ]	Chloro iron
[ ]	Iron chlorate

Hydrochloric acid produces salts called chlorides when it reacts with a metal

One way of producing copper would be to add which of the following metals to copper sulfate solution?

[ ]	Platinum
[ ]	Gold
[ ]	Carbon
[x]	Iron

You would need to use a metal that is more reactive than copper. For the exam, you need to learn the reactivity series by heart

If you drop a piece of cleaned magnesium ribbon into a solution of silver nitrate, the magnesium becomes coated with a grey substance. What is the explanation for this?

[x]	Magnesium is more reactive than silver and displaces the silver
[ ]	Magnesium is less reactive than silver and displaces the silver
[ ]	The magnesium reacts with the nitrate and is coated in magnesium nitrate
[ ]	Silver in silver nitrate is actually more reactive than magnesuim ribbon so the magnesium corrodes

The grey substance is silver which is deposited on the surface of the magnesium ribbon

Which of the following metals is displaced from its ore by using carbon?

[x]	Iron
[ ]	Sodium
[ ]	Gold
[ ]	Magnesium

Gold and iron are lower than carbon in the reactivity series but gold occurs native rather than as an ore

Which of the following combinations of chemicals is likely to be the most exothermic (gives out the most energy) when mixed together?

[ ]	Iron and aluminium oxide
[ ]	Magnesium and aluminium oxide
[ ]	Zinc and copper sulfate solution
[x]	Magnesium and silver nitrate solution

You are looking for the combination of metal and metal salt in solution that are the furthest apart in the reactivity series

What would you see if you added lithium to water?

[ ]	An explosion
[ ]	The metal fizzes and burns with a purple flame
[ ]	The metal fizzes, forms a molten ball and moves around the surface of the water
[x]	The metal fizzes and moves around but doesn't melt

Although heat is given out, the lithium does not reach its melting point. You need to know what happens when you add group I metals to water off by heart for the exam

What would you see if you added potassium to water?

[ ]	An explosion
[x]	The metal fizzes and burns with a purple flame.
[ ]	The metal fizzes, forms a molten ball and moves around the surface of the water
[ ]	The metal fizzes and moves around but doesn't melt

Potassium is the most reactive of the 3 group I metals that are allowed to be used in schools. The reaction gives out so much heat that the hydrogen gas given off during the reaction bursts into flame