Page 11 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

acid: compounds containing hydrogen
which can attack and dissolve many substances. Acids are described as weak or strong, dilute
or concentrated, mineral or organic.
amphoteric: a metal that will react with both acids and alkalis.
electrolyte: a solution that conducts electricity.
REACTIVITY SERIES
Element
Reactivity
potassium sodium calcium magnesium aluminium manganese chromium zinc
iron cadmium tin
lead copper mercury silver gold platinum
most reactive
least reactive
 The reactivity series of metals shows that zinc is more reactive than copper.
Also...
The reaction of zinc with a copper salt occurs because zinc is more reactive than copper. The transfer of electrons from one metal to another is the basis of
all primary batteries (see page 12). Luigi Galvani was the first person to discover that when two metals are connected through certain types of fluid (electrolytes), then an electric current will flow. Galvani used iron and brass rods and the body fluids of frogs in his famous experiments of the 19th century (in which he made frogs’ legs twitch). Today zinc is commonly used as an electrode material in dry batteries, but all cells of this kind are called galvanic cells in honour of Galvani.
 A piece of zinc reacting with dilute hydrochloric acid. The bubbles are hydrogen gas.
Chlorine
EQUATION: The reaction of zinc with an acid
Dilute hydrochloric acid + zinc ➪ zinc chloride + hydrogen gas 2HCl(aq) + Zn(s) ➪ ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)
◆
Hydrogen
Zinc
+➡+
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