Reactivity Series

1. Identify both metals. 2. Compare their positions in the reactivity series. 3. The metal higher in the series is more reactive. 4. Use that order to predict displacement, storage, or extraction.

A vertical reactivity series chart with potassium at the top and gold near the bottom is useful for revision.

A common wrong answer is to think the metal that appears later in the sentence is more reactive, instead of checking the series order.

The reactivity series is the arrangement of metals in decreasing order of their reactivity.

The reactivity series is the arrangement of metals in decreasing order of their reactivity. Rule: a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound or salt solution. Zinc can displace copper from copper sulphate solution because zinc is more reactive than copper.

This order helps us compare how easily different metals react with oxygen, water, acids, and salt solutions. A more reactive metal can often displace a less reactive metal from its compound. The series is very useful in prediction questions and displacement reactions. Rule: a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound or salt solution. If iron is placed in copper sulphate solution, iron displaces copper because iron is above copper in the reactivity series. Copper is deposited and the solution changes colour. Exam questions may ask which metal can displace another, which metal is more reactive, or why a particular metal is stored carefully. A common wrong answer is to think the metal that appears later in the sentence is more reactive, instead of checking the series order.