Reactivity of metals key terms

non-metal oxide

An oxide that is formed from a non-metal and typically exhibits acidic properties. In Metal oxides, this term helps explain describe non-metal oxides as acidic for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

acidic

A property of a substance that can donate protons (H+) in a solution, often associated with non-metal oxides.

base

A substance that can accept protons or donate electron pairs in a chemical reaction. In Metal oxides, this term helps explain distinguish an insoluble base from a soluble alkali when describing oxides for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

alkali

A soluble base that produces hydroxide ions (OH-) when dissolved in water. In Metal oxides, this term helps explain distinguish an insoluble base from a soluble alkali when describing oxides for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

reactivity series

A list of metals arranged in order of their reactivity, from most reactive to least reactive.

dilute acid reaction

A chemical reaction that occurs when a metal reacts with a dilute acid, often producing hydrogen gas and a salt.

displacement reaction

A chemical reaction where a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.

word equation

A representation of a chemical reaction using the names of the reactants and products.

oxidation

The process of gaining oxygen in reactions involving metal compounds. In The reactivity series, this term helps explain explain oxidation as gain of oxygen and reduction as loss of oxygen in reactions involving metal compounds for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

reduction

The process of losing oxygen in reactions involving metal compounds. In The reactivity series, this term helps explain explain oxidation as gain of oxygen and reduction as loss of oxygen in reactions involving metal compounds for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4 For The reactivity series, use reduction in the particle context of oxidation gain oxygen and reduction loss oxygen reactions; this keeps the term tied to Reactivity of metals and avoids confusing it with a nearby acid-base, redox, reactivity, salt-preparation, pH, ion, or electrolysis idea.

oxidation

The process in which a substance loses electrons or gains oxygen. In The reactivity series, this term helps explain identify which substance is oxidised and which is reduced in oxygen-transfer reactions for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

reduction

The process in which a substance gains electrons or loses oxygen. In The reactivity series, this term helps explain identify which substance is oxidised and which is reduced in oxygen-transfer reactions for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4 For The reactivity series, use reduction in the exam wording of which substance oxidised and which reduced oxygen-transfer reactions; this keeps the term tied to Reactivity of metals and avoids confusing it with a nearby acid-base, redox, reactivity, salt-preparation, pH, ion, or electrolysis idea.

Reduction

A chemical reaction where a metal oxide loses oxygen, allowing the metal to be extracted. In Extraction of metals and reduction, this term helps explain explain why metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted from oxides by reduction with carbon for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Carbon

A non-metal element used to reduce metal oxides in extraction processes for metals less reactive than itself.

metal oxide

A compound formed from a metal and oxygen, often involved in reduction reactions. In Extraction of metals and reduction, this term helps explain describe reduction of a metal oxide by carbon in terms of oxygen removal for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

reduction

A chemical process in which a metal oxide loses oxygen, often facilitated by carbon. In Extraction of metals and reduction, this term helps explain describe reduction of a metal oxide by carbon in terms of oxygen removal for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Carbon reduction

A process where carbon removes oxygen from a metal oxide, allowing extraction of metals less reactive than carbon.

Reactivity limit of carbon reduction

The principle that metals more reactive than carbon cannot be extracted from their oxides by carbon reduction because the metal would oxidise the carbon instead of the oxide.

Reduction

The gain of electrons by a species during a redox process. In Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (HT only), this term helps explain (HT only) Define reduction as gain of electrons for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Electron Gain

The process by which an atom or ion accepts electrons, becoming reduced. In Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (HT only), this term helps explain (HT only) Define reduction as gain of electrons for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

electron transfer

The movement of electrons from one atom or ion to another during a chemical reaction.

displacement reaction

A type of reaction where a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.

Reduced species

The substance that gains electrons in a redox reaction. In Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (HT only), this term helps explain (HT only) Identify the species reduced in a redox reaction for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

Oxidised species

The substance that loses electrons in a redox reaction. In Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (HT only), this term helps explain (HT only) Identify the species reduced in a redox reaction for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4 For Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (HT only), use Oxidised species in the reaction context of the species reduced redox reaction; this keeps the term tied to Reactivity of metals and avoids confusing it with a nearby acid-base, redox, reactivity, salt-preparation, pH, ion, or electrolysis idea.

Oxidation half‑equation

A half‑equation showing the loss of electrons by a species, written with the species on the left and the electrons on the right.

Reduction half‑equation

A half‑equation showing the gain of electrons by a species, written with the species on the right and the electrons on the left.

metal oxide

A compound formed from a metal and oxygen, which can act as a base. In Metal oxides, this term helps explain describe metal oxides as bases for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

base

A substance that can accept protons or donate electron pairs in a chemical reaction. In Metal oxides, this term helps explain describe metal oxides as bases for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

alkali

A substance that dissolves in water to produce hydroxide ions (OH-), resulting in an alkaline solution.

metal oxide

A compound formed from the reaction of a metal with oxygen, which can exhibit basic properties.

acidic oxide

An oxide that reacts with water to form an acid or reacts with bases to form salts. In Metal oxides, this term helps explain predict whether an oxide is acidic or basic from whether it contains a metal or a non-metal for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

basic oxide

An oxide that reacts with acids to form salts and water, often derived from metals. In Metal oxides, this term helps explain predict whether an oxide is acidic or basic from whether it contains a metal or a non-metal for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

neutralisation

A chemical reaction between an acid and a base that produces a salt and water. In Metal oxides, this term helps explain link metal oxide reactions with acids to neutralisation and salt formation for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

salt formation

The process of producing a salt from the reaction of an acid with a base. In Metal oxides, this term helps explain link metal oxide reactions with acids to neutralisation and salt formation for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

reactivity series

A list that ranks metals based on their reactivity, from most reactive to least reactive.

metal

An element that typically forms positive ions and has properties such as conductivity and malleability.

reactivity series

A list of metals arranged in order of their reactivity from most reactive to least reactive.

potassium

The most reactive metal in the reactivity series, known for its vigorous reactions with water.

Metal–water reaction

A chemical reaction in which a metal displaces hydrogen from water, producing a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas.

Metal–steam reaction

A chemical reaction in which a metal reacts with steam to form a metal oxide and hydrogen gas.

dilute acid

An acid that has been mixed with water, reducing its concentration. In The reactivity series, this term helps explain describe reactions of metals with dilute acids for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

metal reaction

A chemical process in which a metal interacts with another substance, such as an acid, resulting in the formation of new products.

displacement reaction

A chemical reaction where a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.

reactivity series

A list of metals arranged in order of decreasing reactivity, used to predict the outcomes of displacement reactions.

displacement reaction

A chemical reaction where a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.

metal reactivity

The tendency of a metal to undergo chemical reactions, often compared using displacement reactions.

displacement reaction

A chemical reaction where a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.

balanced symbol equation

An equation that shows the reactants and products of a chemical reaction with equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides.

Unreactive metals

Metals that do not readily react with other substances and can be found in their elemental form in nature.

Gold extraction

The process of obtaining gold from its natural state in the Earth, often without the need for chemical reactions.

metal compounds

Substances formed when metals combine with other elements, often requiring chemical reactions for extraction.

extraction

The process of obtaining metals from their ores through chemical reactions. In Extraction of metals and reduction, this term helps explain explain that most metals are found as compounds that require chemical reactions for extraction for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

metal oxide

A compound formed when a metal reacts with oxygen, often used in extraction processes. In Extraction of metals and reduction, this term helps explain write word equations for extracting metals from metal oxides using carbon for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

carbon reduction

A chemical process where carbon is used to remove oxygen from metal oxides to extract metals.

extraction method

The process used to obtain a metal from its ore, which depends on the metal's position in the reactivity series.

reactivity series

A list of metals arranged in order of decreasing reactivity, used to determine extraction methods.

Electrolysis

A process that uses electrical energy to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction, often used to extract reactive metals from their compounds.

Reactive metals

Metals that readily undergo chemical reactions, often requiring electrolysis for extraction from molten compounds.

oxidation

The process of losing electrons in a chemical reaction. In Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (HT only), this term helps explain (HT only) Define oxidation as loss of electrons for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

electron

A negatively charged subatomic particle found in atoms. In Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (HT only), this term helps explain (HT only) Define oxidation as loss of electrons for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

oxidation

The process in which a species loses electrons in a redox reaction. In Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (HT only), this term helps explain (HT only) Identify the species oxidised in a redox reaction for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4.

reduction

The process in which a species gains electrons in a redox reaction. In Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (HT only), this term helps explain (HT only) Identify the species oxidised in a redox reaction for AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 Unit 4.4 For Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (HT only), use reduction in the definition boundary of the species oxidised redox reaction; this keeps the term tied to Reactivity of metals and avoids confusing it with a nearby acid-base, redox, reactivity, salt-preparation, pH, ion, or electrolysis idea.

redox reaction

A chemical reaction involving the transfer of electrons, where oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously.

electron transfer

The process by which electrons are moved from one atom or ion to another during a chemical reaction.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons by an atom, ion or molecule, resulting in an increase in oxidation state.

Reduction

The gain of electrons by an atom, ion or molecule, resulting in a decrease in oxidation state.