All Questions
Tagged with reactivity inorganic-chemistry
55
questions
41
votes
5
answers
19k
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Why does potassium react more violently with water than lithium?
Recently, I was telling my friends about the violent reaction that takes place when you throw potassium into water. Soon after, a friend of mine claimed that lithium would react more violently than ...
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16
votes
4
answers
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Why is fluorine more reactive than chlorine?
Why is fluorine more reactive than chlorine despite chlorine having a higher electron affinity?
- 227
14
votes
2
answers
18k
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Why does N₂ react with O₂ to Form NO at high temperatures?
This also raises questions that I have about the Haber Process which produces ammonia ($\ce{NH3}$) from molecular nitrogen ($\ce{N2}$) and hydrogen ($\ce{H2}$).
I have heard multiple times that bond ...
- 442
13
votes
1
answer
672
views
What are the properties of COₓ where x ≥ 3?
$\ce{CO_x}$ are part of the oxocarbon molecule class. Commonly known are $\ce{CO}$ and $\ce{CO2}.$ However, there are molecules in which $x$ is equal to or larger than $3.$ Those molecules are barely ...
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11
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1
answer
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How does HF dissolve glass?
By what mechanism does HF proceed in dissolving glass? Why is it the only acid that has this capability? Is it because of the small size and high electronegativity of fluorine?
user10153
11
votes
1
answer
465
views
Why does radium form a nitride rather than oxide when exposed to air?
The Wikipedia article states:
Pure radium is silvery-white, but it readily reacts with nitrogen (rather than oxygen) on exposure to air, forming a black surface layer of radium nitride ($\ce{Ra3N2}$)....
- 451
11
votes
2
answers
307
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Silver Tarnish and Reactivity Series
I read that silver in the presence of hydrogen sulfide corrodes to form silver sulfide and hydrogen.
$$\ce{Ag + H2S -> Ag2S + H2}$$
But in the reactivity series silver is placed much below hydrogen....
- 408
10
votes
3
answers
65k
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Why doesn't copper react with hydrochloric acid while the other metals do?
5) Which one of the following metals does not react with hydrochloric acid?
A. zinc
B. magnesium
C. iron
D. copper
E. aluminium
The right answer must be copper, but why ...
- 849
10
votes
1
answer
1k
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Reactivity of different isomers of N2F2
$\ce{ N2F2}$ exists in two forms cis and trans. Today my chemistry teacher tells me that among the two only cis form takes part in reactions and that it is more reactive. But I have read elsewhere ...
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10
votes
3
answers
60k
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How can I relate the reactivity series to electronegativity and ionization energy?
I am trying to figure out how the reactivity series comes about. My understanding is that elements with a higher electronegativity will be more reactive than elements with a lower electronegativity, ...
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9
votes
2
answers
480
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I can't choose the set of 3 chemicals with each of which Si will react (out of 5 possible sets)
This is one of the questions used in the Russian State Chemistry Exam. One needs to select the set of chemicals in the second column such that each of them would react with the element or chemical in ...
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9
votes
3
answers
2k
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Why is tantalum so unreactive?
What is the fundamental argument behind explaining why Ta metal is so inert and does not usually participate in corrosion? I know that it forms a protective oxide, but nothing explains why in an ...
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9
votes
1
answer
812
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Is ruthenium really invulnerable to aqua regia?
Recently, I answered a question "What metals aren't dissolved in/attacked by aqua regia?" in which I finally concluded "ruthenium is resistant to aqua regia in any form at any concentration of ...
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9
votes
1
answer
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Reaction between magnesium metal and sodium hydroxide: Does this even happen?
Came across this question in a book:
Among aluminum, zinc, tin and magnesium, which metals (if any) will react with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide to displace dihydrogen?
The answer to ...
- 18.8k
9
votes
1
answer
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How does conjugation affect reactivity?
From this topic on MOs of butadiene vs ethene, it is clear that when two ethene molecules are combined to extend the conjugate chain, the HOMO is raised in energy and the LUMO is lowered in energy. ...
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