Question

(a) Based on their electronegativities, arrange the following metals in an activity series: K, Au, Cu, Mg, Mn, Zn, Fe, and Ni.

(b) Similarly list the following metals in order of decreasing activity: Ca, Cd, Ce, Cf, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu.

(c) In each series, which of the metals should visibly react with (cold or hot) water to liberate hydrogen? What GHS pictogram are these likely to carry?

(d) In each series, which of the metals should fail even to react with hot HCl to liberate hydrogen? What pictogram are these likely to carry?

Answer 1

Part (a). Activity: K > Mg > Mn > Zn > Fe > Ni > Cu > Au

Part (b). Activity: Cs > Ca > Ce > Cr > Cd > Co > Cu

Part (c). The high reactive metals such as K, Mg, Cs, Ca visibly react with cold water to liberate hydrogen gas.

Part (d). The least reactive metals such as Au, Cu fail even to react with hot HCl to liberate hydrogen.