Question

Reactions observed in a lab were Magnesium metal + hydrochloric acid, Aluminium + Hydrochloric acid, and sulfur + Hydrochloric acid.

One question states, if there is a correlation between reactivity of the elements tested and their position in the periodic table, the answer is yes.

The photo consists of questions that follow this idea.

What happens to the reactivity as you go move left to right across the periodic table? Explain in terms of atomic size and ionization potential. What happens to the reactivity as you go down a column in the periodic table? Explain in terms of atomic size and ionization potential. Would a reaction be predicted if lithium was placed in water? If so, write an equation to show the reaction. Would a reaction be predicted if beryllium metal was placed in an acid solution? If so, write an equation to show the reaction.

Answer 1

M + HCl -----> MCl + H2
Metals react with acids and liberate Hydrogen.

1.The reactivity of the metal with acid decreases as we go from left to right. This is ionisation potential increases from left to right (Because of increase in effective nuclear charge ) and it becomes more difficult to remove an electron. Hence reactivity decreases.
2.The reactivity of a metal with acid increases as we go down the group this is because the size of metal increases because of this the electrons are poorly shielded . Ionization potential decreases down the group because of this,an electron can be easily removed.
3.Lithium metals reacts slowly with water to form a colourless solution of lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and hydrogen gas (H2).
2Li + 2H20 ----> 2LiOH + H2
4.Yes Beryllium reacts with acids.
Be + H2SO4 ---->BeSO4 +H2