The Reactivity Series

• The Reactivity Series - How well a Metal reacts

  • Lists metals in order of their reactivity with other substances
  • Determined by how easily they lose electrons - forming positive ions
  • Higher up in reactivity series - more easily they form positive ions
• • When metals react with water or acid , they lose electrons and form positive ions
  • The higher a metal is in the reactivity series , the more easily it reacts with water or acid
• Reactivity Series

  • Potassium
  • Sodium
  • Lithium
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Carbon
  • Zinc
  • Iron
  • Hydrogen
  • Copper
• Some metals react with acids to produce a Salt and Hydrogen gas

  • Speed of reaction is indicated by the rate at which bubbles of hydrogen are given off
  • The more reactive the metal , the faster the reaction will go
  • Very reactive metals like potassium , sodium , lithium and calcium react explosively but less reactive metal such as magnesium , zinc and iron react less violently
• • You can also investigate the reactivity of metals by measuring the temperature change of the reaction with an acid or water over a set time period
  • If you use the same mass and surface area of metal each time , then the more reactive the metal , the greater the temperature change should be
• • Acid + Metal -> Salt + Hydrogen
• • Metal + Water -> Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen
• • The metals potassium , sodium , lithium and calcium all react with water
  • Less reactive metals like zinc , iron and copper won't react with water