Reactivity Series
5 marks · EasyState what is meant by a displacement reaction involving a metal oxide.
When carbon is heated with iron(III) oxide, the following reaction occurs:
Identify which substance is reduced in this reaction and explain your answer in terms of oxygen transfer.
Name one use of carbon as a reducing agent in industry.
Explain why carbon cannot be used to extract magnesium from magnesium oxide.
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(a) A more reactive substance removes oxygen from a metal oxide, forming the metal.
(b) Iron(III) oxide is reduced because it loses oxygen to form iron.
(c) Extraction of iron from iron(III) oxide (blast furnace).
(d) Magnesium is more reactive than carbon, so carbon cannot displace magnesium from magnesium oxide.
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Marking points
B1 (a) · 1 mark · States that a more reactive element removes oxygen from a metal oxide/displaces a less reactive metal from its oxide.
M1 (b) · 1 mark · Identifies iron(III) oxide as reduced.
A1 (b) · 1 mark · Explains it loses oxygen to make iron.
B2 (c) · 1 mark · Names extraction of iron from iron(III) oxide (blast furnace) or other valid example.
B3 (d) · 1 mark · States magnesium is above carbon in reactivity series, so carbon cannot displace it.
Worked solution
(a) A displacement reaction involving a metal oxide is when a more reactive element removes oxygen from a metal oxide, forming the metal.
(b) Iron(III) oxide is reduced. It loses oxygen to form iron.
(c) One use is the extraction of iron from iron(III) oxide in the blast furnace.
(d) Carbon cannot be used to extract magnesium because magnesium is more reactive than carbon and so carbon cannot reduce magnesium oxide.