CSEC CHEMISTRY · SECTION C · LESSON C1

Metals: Properties, Reactions and the Reactivity Series

Physical and chemical properties of metals, how metals react with oxygen, water and acids, how to rank them in the reactivity series, displacement reactions, and the thermal stability of compounds.

Inorganic ChemistryC 1.1C 1.2C 2.1C 2.2≈ 55 min🎮 3 games
Before you start

By the end of this lesson you can…

Step 1 · Watch

Explainer video

5 narrated scenes. Press play, listen and read along — the points appear as they are explained. Use ‹ Prev / Next › or the scene bar to jump to any scene.

LESSON C1 · EXPLAINER

Metals: Properties, Reactions and the Reactivity Series

Why is gold found as a nugget while sodium must be kept under oil? The answer is a single list: the reactivity series.

Narration uses your device’s built-in voice. No sound? Switch to “Captions only” — the captions advance on their own.

Explore in 3D

Metals in 3D

Positive ions in layers and a sea of free electrons.

Step 2 · Read

Key notes

Copy these into your notebook in your own words — that is how they stick.

Physical properties

Conduct heat/electricity; malleable; ductile; shiny; sonorous; dense.

Metallic bonding

Positive ions in a sea of delocalised electrons.

With oxygen

Metal + O₂ → metal oxide.

With water

K, Na, Ca: cold water → hydroxide + H₂; Mg: steam → oxide + H₂.

With acid

Metal + acid → salt + hydrogen.

Reactivity series

K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, C, Zn, Fe, Pb, H, Cu, Ag, Au.

Displacement

More reactive metal displaces less reactive metal from solution.

Thermal stability

More reactive metal → more stable carbonates, nitrates, hydroxides.

EXAM TIPS & COMMON MISTAKES

  • Describe the observations: bubbles, colour change, temperature change, solid forming.
  • In displacement, say which metal is higher in the series AND what you observe.
  • Give the metal and acid names in equations; balance them.
  • Link thermal stability to position in the series.
Play & practise

Games

3 quick games on this lesson. Earn XP and badges as you play — your best score for each game is saved. Games are for practice and do not change your exam readiness. More games in the Chemistry Arcade.

Step 3 · Practise

Paper 1 practice — multiple choice

8 items modelled on real CSEC Paper 1 questions. Choose one answer for each, then check. Aim for 80% or better. Work each item on paper first.

Syllabus C 1.1

1. The best explanation of why metals conduct electricity is

Answer: A. Free electrons carry the charge.
Syllabus C 1.1

2. Which metal reacts with cold water to give hydrogen?

Answer: B. Sodium is high in the series.
Syllabus C 1.1

3. The reaction of zinc with dilute hydrochloric acid produces

Answer: C. Metal + acid → salt + hydrogen.
Syllabus C 2.2

4. Which order is from most to least reactive?

Answer: D. Following the series.
Syllabus C 2.1

5. Zinc is added to copper(II) sulfate solution. What is observed?

Answer: A. Copper is displaced.
Syllabus C 2.1

6. Which metal would NOT displace iron from iron(II) sulfate?

Answer: B. Copper is less reactive than iron.
Syllabus C 2.1

7. Which carbonate is stable to heat in a Bunsen flame?

Answer: C. Reactive metals have stable carbonates.
Syllabus C 2.1

8. Heating copper(II) carbonate gives

Answer: D. Green solid turns black.
Step 4 · Apply

Paper 2 practice — structured questions

Write full answers, then reveal the mark scheme and tick the points you earned (17 marks in total). Show all your working — method marks count. Your answers are saved on this device.

Paper 2 style · Metals

Question 1 [17 marks]

A student investigates the reactivity of four metals: magnesium, zinc, iron and copper.

(a) (a) State three physical properties of metals. [3]

MARK SCHEME — (a) (max 3)

(b) (b) Write the equation for the reaction of magnesium with dilute hydrochloric acid and state two observations. [3]

MARK SCHEME — (b) (max 3)

(c) (c) Arrange the four metals in decreasing order of reactivity. [1]

MARK SCHEME — (c) (max 1)

(d) (d) Explain with an equation what happens when zinc is added to copper(II) sulfate solution. [4]

MARK SCHEME — (d) (max 4)

(e) (e) Write the ionic equation for the reaction in (d) and state which species is oxidised. [2]

MARK SCHEME — (e) (max 2)

(f) (f) State what happens when sodium nitrate and copper(II) nitrate are heated and write the equation for copper(II) nitrate. [4]

MARK SCHEME — (f) (max 4)

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Sources

Where this topic appears in CSEC papers

Find these in your own past-paper booklets for extra timed practice. Items above are written in the style of these papers; any adapted from a specific question say so.