The Reactivity Series

Question 1

A strip of zinc metal is placed in a solution of copper(II) sulfate. Which of the following best describes what will happen?

Accepted Answer

Zinc metal will dissolve and copper metal will be deposited on the zinc strip.

Answer

Zinc metal will dissolve but copper will stay dissolved in the solution.

Answer

No visible reaction will occur because both metals are unreactive with each other.

Answer

Copper metal will dissolve and zinc metal will be deposited on the copper.

Question 2

Archaeologists find ancient gold jewelry, iron tools made by early blacksmiths, and modern aluminium cans. Which explanation correctly links the reactivity series to why each metal was obtained the way it was historically?

Accepted Answer

Gold is very low in the reactivity series, so it occurs naturally as pure metal; iron is higher, so early smiths reduced its oxides with carbon (charcoal) in furnaces; aluminium is even higher, making its oxide very stable, so only electric (electrolytic) reduction works, which became possible much later.

Answer

Gold, iron, and aluminium all have similar reactivity, but gold was abundant, iron scarce, and aluminium was never found because it exists as a gas, so none were extracted historically.

Answer

Gold is high in the reactivity series, so ancient people had to use complicated chemical processes to obtain pure gold; iron is moderate, so heating its ore with charcoal was enough; aluminium is low, so it could be smelted early but was ignored because it was rare.

Answer

Gold is moderately reactive, so it was first extracted from ore by heating; iron is less reactive, allowing simple reduction with charcoal; aluminium is very unreactive, so it could not be reduced and was never used.

Question 3

A student first puts a strip of potassium metal into a solution of iron(II) sulfate. After the reaction, the solution (now containing potassium sulfate and solid iron) is used to immerse a strip of iron in a solution of silver nitrate. Which solid metal will finally be seen as a deposit on the iron strip?

Accepted Answer

Silver metal will be deposited.

Answer

No solid metal will be produced.

Answer

Iron metal will be deposited.

Answer

Potassium metal will be deposited.

Try three questions

A strip of zinc metal is placed in a solution of copper(II) sulfate. Which of the following best describes what will happen?

Archaeologists find ancient gold jewelry, iron tools made by early blacksmiths, and modern aluminium cans. Which explanation correctly links the reactivity series to why each metal was obtained the way it was historically?

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