Activity Series
The activity series is a listing of metals in order of their reactivity. An element at the top of the list would rather be in a compound than as an element. The list can be used to determine whether or not a mixture of two materials will cause a chemical reaction or not. Elements at the bottom of the list prefer to be alone, in elemental form. Elements at the top of the list prefer to be in compound form.
When a single replacement reaction occurs, the two metals in the reaction need to be compared. If the element is more active than the metal in the compound, the reaction will occur. If the element is less active, then a reaction will not occur. Examples: Would a reaction occur between…. a) AgNO3 + Li -->
Answer: Ag is at the bottom of the list, and Li is at the top of the list. Ag would prefer to be alone and Li would prefer to be in a compound. Since Ag is in a compound, it would prefer to give up the NO3-1 group, and the Li would prefer to be with the NO3-1 group, so the two metals switch the NO3-1 group, giving us: AgNO3 + Li --> Ag + LiNO3 b) Mg(NO3)2 + Fe --> Answer: No reaction. Fe is lower on the list so it would prefer to be by itself. Since it is already by itself, it will not change, so the reaction doesn’t occur. Mg(NO3)2 + Fe --> NR |