The following four reactions are performed and the experimenter records if there

Question

The following four reactions are performed and the experimenter records if there is a redox reaction or no reaction. Using these results, rank the three metals (Au, Mn, and K) in order from easiest to oxidize to hardest to oxidize.

Easiest to oxidize:

Hardest to oxidize:

               Au (s) + Mn2+ (aq) à No reaction

               Au (s) + K+ (aq) à No reaction

               3 K (s) + Au3+ (aq) à 3 K+ (aq) + Au (s)

               2 K (s) + Mn2+ (aq) à 2 K+ (aq) + Mn (s)

Easiest to oxidize:

Hardest to oxidize:

Explanation / Answer

Potassium (K) is a very active alkali metal and occupies higher rank in the metal acitivity series. Metals have the tendency to lose electrons by the process of oxidation. K atoms are very easily oxidized to form K+ ions. For this reason, K reacts with Au3+ and Mn2+ to form K+ ion.

Mangenese (Mn) is also a metal but less active than potassium. It forms Mn2+ ion by losing two valence electrons. It occupies a rank below potassium in the metal activity series. For this reason, it reacts with more active potassium but doesn't react with Au.

Silver (Au) is also a metal but it is the most inactive among the metals and occupies the lowermost rank in the metal activity series. For this reason, it doesn't oxidize and no reaction is observed between silver and Mn2+ or silver and K+.

Therefore,

Easiest to oxidize : K

Hardest to oxidize : Au

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