Question

Explain briefly how the activity series helps to study the reduction of metallic oxides.

Answer 1

In the activity series, metals are arranged in decreasing order of their reactivity with the most reactive metal at the top and least reactive metals at the bottom.

$\mathrm{K}>\mathrm{Na}>\mathrm{Ca}>\mathrm{Mg}>\mathrm{Al}>\mathrm{Zn}>\mathrm{Fe}>\mathrm{H}>\mathrm{Cu}>\mathrm{Ag}>\mathrm{Au}$

Potassium $\left(\mathrm{K}\right)$ is the most reactive metal and gold $\left(\mathrm{Au}\right)$ is the least reactive metal in the given reactivity series.

1. If the metal oxide is of highly active metal, it is difficult to reduce its oxide from the activity series.
2. By moving down the activity series, the reduction of the metal oxides increases.
3. The oxides of metals at the top of the series have a greater affinity toward oxygen and can not be reduced by carbon, carbon dioxide or hydrogen. These metals are obtained by electrolytic reduction.