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Science lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 30 minutes

The reactivity series and displacement

Chemical reactions, acids and bases

CCSS NGSS.HS-PS1-2England: KS3 Chemistry: Chemical reactionsEngland: KS4 Combined Science: Chemical changes

Objective and success criteria

Students will: The reactivity series and displacement.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Neutralisation and naming salts

Leads to: Predict the products of electrolysis; How metals are extracted from their ores; Oxidation, reduction and half-equations

Materials: Teacher demo or video, Indicator color chart, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Neutralisation and naming salts). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Name the salt: potassium hydroxide + hydrochloric acid → ___ + water (potassium sulfate / potassium chloride / potassium nitrate / potassium oxide) → potassium chloridePrompt: The first part of the salt's name comes from the metal.
  2. What are the products when an acid neutralises an alkali? (a salt and water / an acid and a base / a salt and hydrogen / oxygen and water) → a salt and waterPrompt: acid + alkali → … + …
  3. 20 cm³ of an acid starts at pH 2. An alkali is added 10 cm³ at a time. The pH readings are 2, 4, 5, 7. What total volume of alkali made the solution neutral, in cm³? → 30 cm³Prompt: Neutral means pH 7.

Hook · 3 min

  • Drop an antacid tablet in water (or show a clip) and ask whether a new substance is being made.
  • Share the objective: The reactivity series and displacement. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If calcium is added to a solution of iron sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen?
  • Step 1: calcium is more reactive than iron, so it displaces it.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: yes
  • Answer: yes
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If zinc is added to a solution of calcium sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen? (yes / no) → noPrompt: A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.
  2. Why is gold found as the pure metal in the ground? (It is magnetic / It is very unreactive / It is a non-metal / It is very reactive) → It is very unreactivePrompt: Where is gold in the reactivity series?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. What does "oxidation" mean in terms of oxygen? (loss of oxygen / melting / gain of hydrogen / gain of oxygen) → gain of oxygenPrompt: Rusting iron gains something from the air.
  2. Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If calcium is added to a solution of aluminium (aluminum) sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen? (yes / no) → yesPrompt: A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Neutralisation and naming salts.
  • Use concrete materials: teacher demo or video.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Predict the products of electrolysis; How metals are extracted from their ores; Oxidation, reduction and half-equations.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-9.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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The reactivity series and displacement

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If aluminium (aluminum) is added to a solution of calcium sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen?

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  2. Question 2

    Which metal reacts most vigorously with cold water?

    • A. gold
    • B. potassium
    • C. copper
    • D. iron

  3. Question 3

    Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If aluminium (aluminum) is added to a solution of iron sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen?

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  4. Question 4

    Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If silver is added to a solution of calcium sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen?

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  5. Question 5

    Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If copper is added to a solution of aluminium (aluminum) sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen?

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  6. Question 6

    Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If silver is added to a solution of zinc sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen?

    • A. yes
    • B. no

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Answer key: The reactivity series and displacement

  1. 1. B. no

  2. 2. B. potassium

  3. 3. A. yes

  4. 4. B. no

  5. 5. B. no

  6. 6. B. no