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Science Quiz - Reactions of Metals 01 (Questions)

Metals react in different ways. Some react quickly with water or acid, while others hardly react at all. Their reactivity determines how they are extracted and used.

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Fascinating Fact:

Some metals can be extracted from their ores using carbon, but very reactive metals need electrolysis.

In KS3 Science, pupils learn about the reactivity of metals and how this affects their extraction. Carbon can displace less reactive metals, while highly reactive ones require electrolysis.

Key Terms

Reactivity Series: A ranking of metals based on how easily they react with other substances.
Ore: A rock containing enough metal to make extraction worthwhile.
Electrolysis: A process using electricity to split compounds and extract very reactive metals.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is the reactivity series in KS3 Science?

The reactivity series is a list of metals arranged from most reactive to least reactive. It helps predict how metals react with water, acids, and other substances.

Why do some metals need electrolysis for extraction?

Very reactive metals, like aluminium, bond strongly with oxygen. Carbon cannot remove them, so electricity is used in electrolysis to separate the metal from its ore.

How does carbon extract metals from ores?

Carbon extracts metals by displacing them from their compounds when heated. This works only if the metal is less reactive than carbon in the reactivity series.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

Metals are .......

[ ]	good conductors of heat and electricity
[ ]	magnetic materials
[ ]	poor conductors of heat and electricity
[ ]	usually liquids or gases at room temperature

2.

The metals lithium, sodium and potassium (which react with cold water) are found in which group of the periodic table?

[ ]	1
[ ]	2
[ ]	5
[ ]	7

3.

Some acid is put onto strips of metal. What would you see if the metals react?

[ ]	Burning
[ ]	Colour change
[ ]	Nothing
[ ]	Some bubbles of gas

4.

If a metal reacts with a dilute mineral acid, the products will be .......

[ ]	a salt and carbon dioxide gas
[ ]	a salt and hydrogen gas
[ ]	a salt and water
[ ]	hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas

5.

A metal which has been used for pipes and in coins because it has little reaction with air or water is .......

[ ]	copper
[ ]	iron
[ ]	potassium
[ ]	tin

6.

Magnesium ribbon reacts with acid. It will react more vigorously if .......

[ ]	less magnesium is added
[ ]	more acid is added
[ ]	more water is added
[ ]	the acid is warmed up

7.

Reactive metals can take the place of a less reactive metal in some reactions. This is known as .......

[ ]	combination
[ ]	displacement
[ ]	neutralisation
[ ]	oxidation

8.

Zinc is more reactive than copper, so can take its place in a reaction with copper sulfate. Which is the correct word equation?

[ ]	Zinc + copper + sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper
[ ]	Zinc + copper sulfate → zinc + sulfate + copper
[ ]	Zinc + copper sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper
[ ]	Zinc sulfate + copper → zinc + copper sulfate

9.

Metal carbonates react with acids to produce carbon dioxide gas. It can be tested for using .......

[ ]	a glowing splint
[ ]	a lighted splint
[ ]	limewater
[ ]	universal indicator

10.

Using your knowledge of metals and their reactions, which list places the metals in order of DECREASING reactivity?

[ ]	Copper, gold, zinc, iron
[ ]	Iron, magnesium, sodium, copper
[ ]	Sodium, magnesium, iron, copper
[ ]	Zinc, gold, copper, sodium

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Reactions of metals with acids

Science Quiz - Reactions of Metals 01 (Answers)

1.

Metals are .......

[x]	good conductors of heat and electricity
[ ]	magnetic materials
[ ]	poor conductors of heat and electricity
[ ]	usually liquids or gases at room temperature

There is no correlation between the position in the reactivity series and how well a metal conducts electricity

2.

The metals lithium, sodium and potassium (which react with cold water) are found in which group of the periodic table?

[x]	1
[ ]	2
[ ]	5
[ ]	7

They are called the alkali metals

3.

Some acid is put onto strips of metal. What would you see if the metals react?

[ ]	Burning
[ ]	Colour change
[ ]	Nothing
[x]	Some bubbles of gas

More reactive metals also release a lot of heat in this reaction

4.

If a metal reacts with a dilute mineral acid, the products will be .......

[ ]	a salt and carbon dioxide gas
[x]	a salt and hydrogen gas
[ ]	a salt and water
[ ]	hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide gas

Mineral acids that you may have used in your school laboratory are hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid. The salt depends on the acid and metal used, so if the metal was iron and the acid was nitric, the salt would be sodium nitrate

5.

A metal which has been used for pipes and in coins because it has little reaction with air or water is .......

[x]	copper
[ ]	iron
[ ]	potassium
[ ]	tin

Can you imagine what would happen to a water pipe made from potassium?!

6.

Magnesium ribbon reacts with acid. It will react more vigorously if .......

[ ]	less magnesium is added
[ ]	more acid is added
[ ]	more water is added
[x]	the acid is warmed up

When you warm up a chemical reaction, it goes faster

7.

Reactive metals can take the place of a less reactive metal in some reactions. This is known as .......

[ ]	combination
[x]	displacement
[ ]	neutralisation
[ ]	oxidation

The more reactive metal displaces (kicks out) the less reactive metal from its compound

8.

Zinc is more reactive than copper, so can take its place in a reaction with copper sulfate. Which is the correct word equation?

[ ]	Zinc + copper + sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper
[ ]	Zinc + copper sulfate → zinc + sulfate + copper
[x]	Zinc + copper sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper
[ ]	Zinc sulfate + copper → zinc + copper sulfate

It is just a case of swapping the zinc and copper round. A word equation shows you the starting and finishing materials

9.

Metal carbonates react with acids to produce carbon dioxide gas. It can be tested for using .......

[ ]	a glowing splint
[ ]	a lighted splint
[x]	limewater
[ ]	universal indicator

The limewater turns cloudy (milky)

10.

Using your knowledge of metals and their reactions, which list places the metals in order of DECREASING reactivity?

[ ]	Copper, gold, zinc, iron
[ ]	Iron, magnesium, sodium, copper
[x]	Sodium, magnesium, iron, copper
[ ]	Zinc, gold, copper, sodium

If you forget, you can easily look up the reactivity series but knowing the main metals in order off by heart can save time when answering questions or working out what is happening in some chemical reactions