KS3 Science · Chemistry
Metals and reactivity
Six short lessons. Look at the picture, learn three things, then play.
Test yourself
Puzzles
These two are for the whole topic. Each lesson has a word search and a crossword of its own as well, at the top of its page.
Knowledge organiser
The whole topic on one page. Tap it to make it bigger.
Take it with you
Save these to print or read later.
Key words
Oxidation A reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen
Oxide A compound of an element with oxygen
Basic oxide An oxide that neutralises acids, such as a metal oxide
Acidic oxide An oxide that makes an acid in water, such as carbon dioxide
Rusting The slow reaction of iron with oxygen and water
Reactivity How readily a substance reacts
Reactivity series A list of metals in order of how reactive they are
Hydrogen The gas made when a metal reacts with water or an acid
Salt The compound made, with hydrogen, when a metal reacts with an acid
Displacement A more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive one in a compound
Unreactive Hardly ever takes part in chemical reactions
Ore A rock with enough metal compound in it to be worth extracting the metal
Extraction Separating a metal from its compound
Reduction A reaction in which a substance loses oxygen
Electrolysis Using electricity to split a compound into its elements
Ceramic A hard, brittle material with a very high melting point
Polymer A material made of very long chain molecules
Composite A material made by combining two or more materials