Which Metal is the Most Reactive Based on Displacement Reactions?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the reactivity of five metals (A, B, C, D, and E) based on a matrix of displacement reactions. Participants are tasked with interpreting the matrix to arrange the metals according to their reactivity, but they encounter contradictions in their findings.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that a positive entry (+) indicates a reaction, while a negative entry (-) indicates no reaction, suggesting a method to assess reactivity.
  • One participant interprets the matrix to derive relationships such as A > B, A > C, A > D, and A > E based on the first row.
  • Another participant notes that the second row leads to a contradiction with B > A, creating confusion about the reactivity hierarchy.
  • Further claims indicate that C is more reactive than A, B, and D, while D is suggested to be the least reactive.
  • Participant feedback questions the validity of the original question due to the contradictions observed in the derived relationships.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the reactivity rankings due to conflicting interpretations of the matrix, resulting in unresolved contradictions.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in the clarity of the matrix and the assumptions made regarding the relationships between the metals, which may depend on the specific context of the reactions.

Equilibrium
Messages
81
Reaction score
0
Metal AX BX CX DX EX
A - + + + +
B + - + - -
C + + - + -
D - - - - -
E + + + + -

Arrange the following metals A,B,C,D and E according to increasing reactivity out of the information
given above. Use The Symbol of greater than (>) in indicating that one metal is more reactive than the other. Ex A>B>E means metal A is more reactive than B and B is more reactive than E.

Dont know were to start...
i just know that E + AX = There is a reaction where E > A etc.
 
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Equilibrium said:
Metal AX BX CX DX EX
A - + + + +
B + - + - -
C + + - + -
D - - - - -
E + + + + -

Arrange the following metals A,B,C,D and E according to increasing reactivity out of the information given above.
What information is this? What do the entries (+,-) in this matrix represent?
 
+ means that there is a reaction
- means that there's no reaction

and my diagram is a table... and sorry for that, can't skip it
 
Equilibrium said:
Metal
AX BX CX DX EX
A - + + + +
B + - + - -
C + + - + -
D - - - - -
E + + + + -

If a metal A displace out another metal B from another metal's solution (BX), then this means that metal A is more reactive than metal B.

From the first row of the table, we can get A>B, A>C, A>D, A>E.
Then, from the second row, we get, B>A and B>C.
For the third row, C>A, C>B and C>D,
From the 4th row, we can conclude that metal D is the least reactive among the 5 metals.
5th row, E>A, E>B, E>C, E>D.

However, I think there is something wrong with this question, since we get A>B, and B>A, (and many other contradictions) which only one of them can be true.

Can you please check back the question? Thanks.:smile:
 

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