5 Steps to a 5 AP Chemistry

Elements on this activity series can displace ions of metals lowerthan themselves on the

list. If, for example, one placed a piece of tin metal into a solution containing

Cu(NO 3 ) 2 (aq), the Sn would replace the Cu^2 +cation:

The second equation is the net ionic form that is often required on the AP exam.

If a piece of copper metal was placed in a solution of Sn(NO 3 ) 2 (aq) there would be no

reaction, since copper is lower than tin on the activity series. This table allows us to also pre-

dict that if sodium metal is placed in water, it will displace hydrogen, forming hydrogen gas:

The Group IA and IIA elements on the activity table will displace hydrogen from water,

but not the other metals shown. All the metals above hydrogen will react with acidic

solutions to produce hydrogen gas:

Co s HCl aq CoCl aq H g

Co s H aq

() () () ()

() ( )

+→+

+ +

2

2

22

→→+Co^2 +()aq H g 2 ()

22 2

22

22

2

Na s H O l NaOH aq H g

Na s H O l

() () ( ) ( )

() (

+→ +

+ ))()()()→+ + 22 Na aq+−OH aq H g 2

SnsCuNOaq SnNOaqCus

Sn s

()()() ()()()

()

+→+

+

32 32

CCu^22 ++()aq →+Sn ()aq Cu s()

74  STEP 4. Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High

Table 6.1 Activity Series of Metals in Aqueous Solution

Li(s) → Li+(aq) + e- Most easily oxidized

K(s) → K+(aq) + e-

Ba(s) → Ba^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Sr(s) → Sr^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Ca(s) → Ca^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Na(s) → Na+(aq) + e-

Mg(s) → Mg^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Al(s) → Al^3 +(aq) + 3 e-

Mn(s) → Mn^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Zn(s) → Zn^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Cr(s) → Cr^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Fe(s) → Fe^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Cd(s) → Cd^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Co(s) → Co^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

V(s) → V^3 +(aq) + 3 e-

Ni(s) → Ni^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Sn(s) → Sn^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Pb(s) → Pb^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

H 2 (g) → 2 H+(aq) + 2 e-

Cu(s) → Cu^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Ag(s) → Ag+(aq) + e-

Hg(l) → Hg^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Pd(s) → Pd^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Pt(s) → Pt^2 +(aq) + 2 e-

Au(s) → Au^3 +(aq) + 3 e- Least easily oxidized