An environmental chemist investigated the relative reactivity of four unidentified metallic samples, W, X, Y, and Z, recovered from an industrial site.
To determine their reactivity, equal-sized granules of each metal were added to separate test tubes containing identical volumes and concentrations of dilute sulfuric acid at room temperature.
The observations recorded over a 10-minute period are summarised in the table below:
| Metal | Observations with dilute sulfuric acid |
|---|---|
| W | Bubbles of gas form slowly. The metal piece is only slightly smaller after 10 minutes. |
| X | No bubbles are observed, and the metal remains completely unchanged. |
| Y | Bubbles of gas form extremely rapidly with violent effervescence. The metal dissolves completely within 30 seconds. |
| Z | Bubbles of gas form at a steady rate. The metal dissolves completely after 5 minutes. |
Use the observations in the table to arrange the metals in order of their reactivity, from the most reactive to the least reactive.
Practise Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Obtaining and using metals with exam-style questions for Foundation and Higher tier. 100 questions, matched to the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry (1CH0) specification and written in Paper 1 and Paper 2 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.