Energy changes and the reactivity series
Some reactions release energy as heat, others absorb it — and how easily a metal reacts tells you exactly where it sits in a very useful league table.
Part of your national curriculum
- Chemistry: chemical reactions: Understand exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions and the reactivity series of metals
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions and the reactivity series of metals
Key learning points
- • Exothermic and endothermic reactions
- • Detecting energy changes
- • The reactivity series
This lesson at a glance
- 26 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Energy changes and the reactivity series
Some reactions release energy as heat, others absorb it — and how easily a metal reacts tells you exactly where it sits in a very useful league table.
In a nutshell
Understand exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions and the reactivity series of metals
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Exothermic and endothermic reactions
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
Exothermic and endothermic reactions
An exothermic reaction transfers energy to the surroundings, so the temperature increases — combustion and neutralisation are examples. An endothermic reaction takes in energy from the surroundings, so the temperature decreases — some sports injury cold packs use this.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Detecting energy changes
You can detect an exothermic or endothermic reaction with a thermometer: if the temperature of the reaction mixture rises above the starting temperature, it is exothermic; if it falls, it is endothermic.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · The reactivity series
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
The reactivity series
The reactivity series ranks metals from most to least reactive (e.g. potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, gold). More reactive metals react more vigorously with water or acid, and can displace less reactive metals from their compounds in a displacement reaction.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
An ____ reaction transfers energy to the surroundings, so the temperature increases — combustion and neutralisation are examples.
An ____ reaction takes in energy from the surroundings, so the temperature decreases — some sports injury cold packs use this.
The ____ series ranks metals from most to least reactive (e.g.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
What happens to temperature during an exothermic reaction?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Energy changes and the reactivity series
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. What happens to temperature during an exothermic reaction?
2. Which of these metals is most reactive?
3. What can a more reactive metal do to a less reactive metal's compound?
4. What happens to the temperature in an exothermic reaction?
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
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Ask LunaPart 1 of 17 · Watch & discover
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Understand exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions and the reactivity series of metals