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Reactivity Series


↑less reactive
K
Na
Mg
Al		 Electricity, e.g. Al2O3 → Al + CO2
Zn
Fe		 Carbon more reactive than Zn and Fe e.g. Fe2O3 → Fe + CO2
Copper
Silver
Au		 Carbon or Hydrogen more reactive than Zn and Fe

↓more reactive

The reactivity series is how much the metals want to give up electrons.


Fe2 ¦ O3

       heat until bound broken

       Ions Fe3+; O2-; :C:
                        joins to O    O=C=O

Fe(s) + CuSO4(aq) → Cu(s) + FeSO4(aq) happens in water [SO4 = ionic molecule]

Fe(s) + CuO(s) → Fe2O3 + Cu needs a lot of heat