In a reactivity series, the most reactive element is placed at the top and the least reactive element at the bottom. More reactive metals have a greater tendency to lose electrons and form positive ions.
A reactivity series of metals could include any elements. For example,
A list of elements from most reactive to least reactive: potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, zinc, iron, copper, silver, and gold.
A good way to remember the order of a reactivity series of metals is to use the first letter of each one to make up a silly sentence. For example, People Say Little Children Make A Zebra Ill Constantly Sniffing Giraffes.
Observations of the way that these elements react with water, acids, and steam enable us to put them into this series.
The tables show how the elements react with water and dilute acids:
ElementReaction with water
PotassiumViolently
SodiumVery quickly
LithiumQuickly
CalciumMore slowly
ElementReaction with dilute acids
CalciumVery quickly
MagnesiumQuickly
ZincMore slowly
IronMore slowly than zinc
CopperVery slowly
SilverBarely reacts
GoldDoes not react
Note that aluminum can be difficult to place in the correct position in the reactivity series during these experiments. This is because its protective aluminum oxide layer makes it appear to be less reactive than it really is. When this layer is removed, the observations are more reliable.
Non-metals in the reactivity series
It is useful to place carbon and hydrogen into the reactivity series because these elements can be used to extract metals.
Here is the reactivity series including carbon and hydrogen:
A list of elements from most reactive to least reactive: potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, carbon, zinc, iron, hydrogen, copper, silver, and gold.
Note that zinc and iron can be displaced from their oxides using carbon but not using hydrogen. However, copper can be extracted using carbon or hydrogen. Displacement reactions of metal oxides
A more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from a compound. The thermite reaction is a good example of this. It is used to produce white-hot molten (liquid) iron in remote locations for welding. A lot of heat is needed to start the reaction, but then it releases an incredible amount of heat, enough to melt the iron.
aluminium + iron(III) oxide → iron + aluminium oxide
2Al + Fe2O3 → 2Fe + Al2O3
Because aluminum is more reactive than iron, it displaces iron from iron(III) oxide. The aluminum removes oxygen from the iron(III) oxide:
iron is reduced
aluminum is oxidized
Reactions between metals and metal oxides allow us to put a selection of metals into a reactivity series. Using metals A, B, and C:
Metal AMetal BMetal C
A oxideXDisplaces ADisplaces A
B oxideNo reactionXNo reaction
C oxideNo reactionDisplaces CX
Metal A cannot displace either B or C - so it must be the least reactive and be at the bottom of this reactivity series.
Metal B displaces both A and C - so it must be the most reactive and be at the top of this reactivity series.
Metal C displaces A but cannot displace B - so it must be more reactive than A but less reactive than B, and be in between them in this reactivity series.
In general, the greater the difference in reactivity between two metals in a displacement reaction, the greater the amount of energy released.
Aluminum is much higher than iron in the reactivity series, so the thermite reaction releases a lot of energy. Magnesium is very high in the reactivity series, and copper is very low - so the reaction between magnesium and copper oxide is more violent.
Therefore, the order is:
A list of letters from most reactive to least reactive: B, C and A,
Displacement reactions of solutions
A more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from a solution of one of its salts. For example:
magnesium + copper(II) sulfate → copper + magnesium sulfate
Mg(s) + CuSO4(aq) → Cu(s) + MgSO4(aq)
In this reaction, the blue color of the copper(II) sulfate fades as it is used up (magnesium sulfate solution is colorless). We would also see copper metal forming.
Reactions between metals and solutions of metal salts allow us to put a selection of metals into a reactivity series. Using metals J, K, and L:
Metal JMetal KMetal L
J sulfateXNo reactionNo reaction
K sulfateDisplaces KXDisplaces K
L sulfateDisplaces LNo reactionX
Metal J displaces both K and L - so it must be the most reactive and be at the top of this reactivity series.
Metal K cannot displace either J or L - so it must be the least reactive and be at the bottom of this reactivity series.
Metal L displaces K but cannot displace J - so it must be more reactive than K but less reactive than J, and be in between them in this reactivity series.
- sorry I'm late and it's is long -_-||
