The Reactivity Series and Extraction of Metal

The reactivity series is a series of metals in order of their reactivity. This means that the top metals of series will be more reactive than the bottom metals of series. Below is the reactivity series, in that potassium is the most reactive metal while gold is the least reactive. 

   

 How to remember this series? you can remember this series by this

Extraction of Metals: 

     We have learnt about reactivity series above. By this series we can easily understand the extraction of metals. 

     

Extraction of Metals low in reactivity series 

    Now, metals low in reactivity series are less reactive. They can be easily extracted from their oxides by only heating. For e.g. Cu2S can be obtained by just heating in air.

Extraction of Metals middle in reactivity series:

  

   The metals in the middle of the series are moderately reactive. They are present in nature in the form of sulphides or carbonates. The sulphides ores can be converted into oxides by heating strongly by the process of roasting. The carbonate ores can be converted into oxides by heating strongly by the process of calcination. 

  Roasting process e.g.,

 Calcination process e.g.,

Both of these process makes oxides of zinc. These oxides can be reduced to zinc by reduction. 

Extraction of Metals top in reactivity series:

 The metals at the top of the series are highly reactive. They can be extracted by two process: 1)Displacement 2)Electrolytic reduction. 

 

  Displacement process e.g.,

   Electrolytic reduction e.g.,

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PROPERTIES OF METALS AND NON-METALS