Metal Activity Series - Setting Up an Activity Series
Setting Up an Activity Series
Setting Up an Activity Series
Using an activity series we can predict if a reaction will occur when we mix an elemental metal with a solution containing the ion of another metal (this is what we did on the last page). If we do not have an activity series, but have the metals with which to perform an experiment, we can establish a series.
An Example
A student put small pieces of lithium, tin and gold into separate test tubes filled with water. The lithium reacted vigorously while the others did not. He concluded that lithium is more reactive than tin and gold. Next, he places a piece of gold into a solution of tin (II) chloride and observes no signs of a chemical reaction. He concluded that gold must be less reactive than tin. By combining these two pieces of information he created an activity series with lithium at the top, tin in between, and gold at the bottom.
This completes the background material. Proceed to the prelab.
