Carbon is widely used in the extraction of zinc, iron, tin and lead for a number of reasons:
#Metal reactivity series free#
#Metal reactivity series series#
The strongest oxidants are top left of the table.Application of the reactivity series of metals in the extraction of metalsĪpplication of the reactivity series of metals towards oxygen in the extraction of metals:.A double arrow (↔ ) is used to indicate that the reaction can proceed in both directions.The half equations are written in the direction in which reduction occurs.The most reactive metals are the strongest reductants.The most reactive metals appear at the bottom of the table since they lose electrons more easily.The Electrochemical Series of Metals ranks the metals in order of their reactivity.A conjugate redox pair is made up of two species ( an oxidant and a reductant) which differ by the number of electrons that have been transferred from the oxidant to the reductant in the chemical reaction.The two reactants (oxidant and reductant) have their own half equations.Although the oxidation and reduction reactions occur simultaneously, it is possible to write the two reactions separately.
Half equations are a useful way of understanding the processes involved in a redox reaction.Ionic Equation: (SO4 2- spectator ions).Example: Reaction between magnesium metal and copper sulfate solution.Potassium and gold are at the opposite of the reactivity series of metals (also called the activity series). Gold, on the other hand, is very unreactive.For example, potassium is so reactive that it is found naturally as a compound rather than a pure metal.Experience tells us that different metals have varying abilities to react with other substances.Therefore, it is possible to conclude that magnesium is more reactive than copper.If you place a copper strip in a solution of magnesium sulfate, no reaction occurs.Mg (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → Cu (s) + MgSO4 (aq) When magnesium is placed in copper sulfate solution a redox reaction occurs, causing copper metal to form on the magnesium and the deep blue colour of the solution pales.