2
$\begingroup$

I screwed up on a true/false question that stated that lithium is the most active alkali metal. I answered false, because I remembered that the lower you go in this group, the more explosive the element is.

It seems, however, I was thinking of reactivity and not activity. I know about the activity series, and it's something I wouldn't like to memorize, but I would a deeper explanation on the difference between activity and reactivity. Why do we have these two terms?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1
$\begingroup$

Activity is an ordered series, showing which element will replace another element. For example, in a solution of copper sulfate in water, a piece of iron quickly becomes coated with copper as the iron displaces copper from the solution because iron is more active. No explosion took place.

$\ce{Fe(solid iron) + CuSO4 (dissolved in water) -> Cu(solid copper) + FeSO4 (dissolved)}$

Reactivity is less clearly defined. In general, it means how easily some chemical change takes place. For example, chlorine, oxygen and sodium are all very reactive, easily attaching to other elements or replacing elements in compounds. Argon and helium are not reactive, and rarely, if ever, combine with other substances. Nitrogen triiodide, $\ce{NI3}$ and acetylene, $\ce{C2H2}$, are very reactive, but in a way opposite that of sodium or oxygen: rather than attaching to other substances, forming molecules, these compounds want to break up their molecules. In fact, even touching $\ce{NI3}$ will make it decompose violently... Now there's your explosion.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I actually learnt it as the "reactivity series", so this question kind of confused me. Not saying you're wrong, I'm sure it's just different terminology in different locales... But in any case, surely the heavier alkali metals should be higher in the series than lithium, or am I being stupid? $\endgroup$
    – orthocresol
    Commented Nov 2, 2016 at 21:20
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @orthocresol, I agree on the alkali metals being more reactive, from Li to Fr, i.e. electrons are lost more easily with increasing atomic radius. (The converse is true for halogens, so no elemental electron acceptor stronger than fluorine exists.) Re: use of English in chemistry, it is most imprecise. We can't even agree on aluminium vs. aluminum, or sulfur vs. sulphur, and that's just an elementary example. $\endgroup$
    – DrMoishe Pippik
    Commented Nov 2, 2016 at 21:31

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.