Reactivity of metals key terms

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.