A student adds small pieces of four metals — calcium, lead, nickel, and gold — separately to cold water. Describe what the student would observe for each metal, and explain these observations using the reactivity series.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
Model answer (4 marks)
Calcium – vigorous reaction, bubbles of hydrogen gas are seen.
Lead – no observable reaction.
Nickel – no observable reaction.
Gold – no observable reaction.
The observations are explained by the reactivity series: calcium lies high in the series and can displace hydrogen from water, so it reacts with cold water. Lead, nickel and gold are lower in the series (below calcium) and are unable to displace hydrogen from water, so they do not react with cold water.
Lead – no observable reaction.
Nickel – no observable reaction.
Gold – no observable reaction.
The observations are explained by the reactivity series: calcium lies high in the series and can displace hydrogen from water, so it reacts with cold water. Lead, nickel and gold are lower in the series (below calcium) and are unable to displace hydrogen from water, so they do not react with cold water.
Examiner tips
- Use the word ‘vigorous’ for calcium’s reaction; mention ‘hydrogen gas’. State ‘no reaction’ for lead, nickel, gold. Link each observation to the metal’s position in the reactivity series.
- common_mistakes
- :
- Writing that lead or nickel reacts with water. Forgetting to mention hydrogen gas for calcium. Using vague terms like ‘reacts’ for all metals.
Mark scheme (4 marks)
- Calcium reacts vigorously with cold water, producing bubbles of gas (hydrogen)
- Lead and nickel show no reaction / do not react with cold water
- Gold shows no reaction with cold water
- Calcium is high in the reactivity series so it reacts with cold water; lead, nickel, and gold are lower in the reactivity series / below calcium so they do not react with cold water
Key terms in this question
Related
- All Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry (0620) revision notes →
- How to answer a "Describe" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →
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