Using the Activity Series

A metal will transfer electrons to any cation that is lower on the list. Furthermore, the list is in order of reactivity, so the greater the separation between the species, the more vigorous the reaction. Example shows how to use the activity series to predict the outcome of a metal displacement reaction. 

A displacement reaction occurs when a metal high in the activity series is added to a solution containing a cation lower on the list. For each case, we need to identify the species in the mixture and evaluate reactivity using the activity series. 

We may use the activity series to predict certain types of redox reactions. For example, suppose you wanted to write the equation between magnesium metal and hydrochloric acid ... 

Using the activity series in this text, write net ionic equations for each of the following. Indicate no reaction, NR, where appropriate. 

Know how to use the activity series to predict whether or not an element will displace another element. 

Use the activity series to choose a reducing agent that will reduce aqueous nickel(II) ions to metallic nickel. Explain your reasoning. 

Use the activity series of metals (Table 4.3) to predict the outcome of each of the following reactions. If no reaction occurs, write N.R. 

You can use the activity series to help you predict the products of the reaction of a metal and a metal-containing compound. For example, consider the following incomplete equation. 

Using the activity series, write a balanced chemical equation for each single displacement reaction. If you predict that there will be no reaction, write NR. ... 

In the same way as you used the activity series for metals, you can use the activity series for halogens to predict whether substances will undergo a single displacement reaction. For example, fluorine is above chlorine in the activity series. So, given the reactants fluorine and sodium chloride, you can predict that the following reaction will occur ... 

Identify displacement reactions, and use the activity series to write chemical equations that predict the products. 

Results of experiments, such as the one in Figure 12, in which displacement reactions take place are summarized in the activity series, a portion of which is shown in Table 4. In the activity series, elements are arranged in order of activity with the most active one at the top. In general, an element can displace those listed below it from compounds in solution, but not those listed above it. Thus, you can use the activity series to make predictions about displacement reactions. You could also predict that no reaction would happen, such as when silver is put into a copper(II) nitrate solution. 

Sample Problem E Determining Products by Using the Activity Series... 

Using the activity series in Appendix A, predict whether each of the possible reactions listed below will occur. For the reactions that will occur, write the products and balance the equation. 

Predict the outcome of the reactions represented by the following equations by using the activity series, and balance the equations. 

You can use the activity series to predict whether or not certain reactions will occur. A specific metal can replace any metal listed below it that is in a compound. It cannot replace any metal listed above it. For example, copper atoms replace silver atoms in a solution of silver nitrate. However, if you place a silver wire in aqueous copper(II) nitrate, the silver atoms will not replace the copper. Silver is listed below copper in the activity series, so no reaction occurs. The letters NR (no reaction) are commonly used to indicate that a reaction will not occur. 

In short, the more active metals displace the less active metals from solution. As an example, if an iron strip is immersed in a solution of copper sulfate, some of the iron dissolves, forming iron ions, while the copper ions become metallic and copper metal plates out on the remaining iron strip. The activity series can be used to predict displacement reactions between atoms and ions in compounds of the type A + BC AC + B, where A and B are atoms. Using the activity series, any atom A will displace from a compound any element B listed below it, but will not displace any element listed above it. 

Using the activity series (Table 4.5), write balanced chemical equations for the following reactions. If no reaction occurs, simply write NR. (a) Iron metal is added to a solution of cop-per(II) nitrate (b) zinc metal is added to a solution of magnesium sulfate (c) hydrobromic acid is added to tin metal (d) hydrogen gas is bubbled through an aqueous solution of nickelfll) chloride (e) aluminum metal is added to a solution of cohalt(n) sulfate. 

Use the activity series to predict which of the following reactions will occur. Complete and balance the equations. If no reactions occurs, write no reaction as the product. 

Problem-Solving Strategy Using the Activity Series to Predict Reactions... 

Flere are two examples using the activity series of metals. 

According to Step 2 in Problem-Solving Strategy Using the Activity Series, we can predict that free iron will react with copper(II) ions in solution to form free copper metal and iron(II) ions in solution ... 

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