Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Inorganic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: wolf_of_benjamin on May 09, 2013, 05:07:50 AM
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Which is truly more reactive? Lithium or Natrium? I often see Natrium below Lithium in the activity series. Theoretically, isn't Natrium supposed to be more chemically reactive than Lithium?
Periodic:
Li
Na
K
Activity Series:(acceptable Theoretically)
K
Na
Li
(in other books) Activity Series:
K
Li
Na
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K,Na,Li
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There is no fully consistent way of defining the reactivity series.
For example, one could say K is more reactive than Na because it loses electrons faster (evident in the former's stronger reaction with either air or water).
And yet one could also say that Na is more reactive than K because the former will replace the latter such as:
Na(l) + KNO3(l) :rarrow: K(l) + NaNO3(l).
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The ability to 'replace' another compound is associated with relative volatility of the compounds in a particular reaction. For example:
Mg + 2 KOH --> MgO + H2O (g) + 2 K
a reaction that is dangerously exothermic. Similarly, for Mg and NaOH (do not attempt this reaction either). Magnesium, of course, is not considered more 'reactive' than either Potassium or Sodium.
But extreme heat is not always needed, as I have read in a recent work that Magnesium alkoxide, for example, behaves similarly in being able to form a double replacement reaction with more reputedly more active elements.
And, that's not all, an old reference notes the important of the volatility of an acid along with the reactivity of the constituting element in directing reactions.
Now, you are a bit more of a chemist and possibly very confused (it comes with the territory).