The Reactivity Series
Order common metals in the reactivity series and explain how a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one; describe how carbon is used to extract metals from their oxides in industry
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“If your child was asked why humans used gold and copper before iron and aluminium, could they explain how a metal's reactivity determines how easy it is to extract — and why carbon can extract some metals but not others?”
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- Activity. Order common metals in the reactivity series and explain how a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one; describe how carbon is used to extract metals from their oxides in industry
What to notice. Recalls the order of common metals in the reactivity series (potassium to gold) • Predicts whether a displacement reaction will occur given two metals • Explains why carbon can be used to extract iron from iron oxide but not aluminium from aluminium oxide • Links the reactivity series to the history of metal use (gold found free, iron smelted, aluminium electrolytic)
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If your child was asked why humans used gold and copper before iron and aluminium, could they explain how a metal's reactivity determines how easy it is to extract — and why carbon can extract some metals but not others?
Order common metals in the reactivity series and explain how a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one; describe how carbon is used to extract metals from their oxides in industry
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Check understanding
- Recalls the order of common metals in the reactivity series (potassium to gold)
- Predicts whether a displacement reaction will occur given two metals
- Explains why carbon can be used to extract iron from iron oxide but not aluminium from aluminium oxide
- Links the reactivity series to the history of metal use (gold found free, iron smelted, aluminium electrolytic)
“If your child was asked why humans used gold and copper before iron and aluminium, could they explain how a metal's reactivity determines how easy it is to extract — and why carbon can extract some metals but not others?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Matter & Materials
- Age range
- Ages 12–14
Standards