The third
type of reaction of which you observed was that between a metal
and the oxide of another metal (the thermit reaction).
This
reaction was the spectacular reaction between aluminum and the oxide
of iron.
–Aluminum + Iron oxide
¾® Aluminum oxide
+ Iron
–Al (s) + Fe2O3 (s) ¾® Al2O3 (s) + Fe (l)
A more reactive metal will
displace a less reactive metal
from it’s oxide.
–Metal 1 + Metal 2
oxide ¾® Metal 1 oxide + Metal2
Exercise:
Write at least 3 equations for a metal and oxide of another metal
where there would be a displacement reaction if the conditions were
right.