Reactivity Series - Chemistry

• The reactivity series of metals ranks metals by how readily they react.
• More reactive metals displace less reactive metals from their compounds and react with water.
• The reactivity series of metals is a chart listing metals in order of decreasing reactivity.
• In general, the more reactive a metal is: the more vigorously it reacts with other substances the more easily it loses electrons to form positive ions (cations).
• The reactivity of metals can be examined by observing their reactions with oxygen, water, steam and whether it displaces other metals in displacement reactions.
• A displacement reaction is a reaction in which a more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive metal in a compound.
• This table summarises the reactions of some metals in the reactivity series.
• Potassium (K) reacts vigorously when heated, forms a lilac flame and a white solid, and tarnishes when freshly cut at room temperature.
• Sodium (Na) reacts vigorously when heated, forms a yellow/orange flame and a white solid, and tarnishes when freshly cut at room temperature.
• Calcium (Ca) reacts vigorously with strong heating, forms a brick red flame and a white solid, and slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature.
• Magnesium (Mg) reacts readily with strong heating, forms a white light and a white solid, and slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature.
• Aluminium (Al) reacts readily with strong heating as a powder, forms a white solid, and slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature.
• Zinc (Zn) reacts steadily when heated, forms a yellow solid which changes to white on cooling, and slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature.
• Iron (Fe) reacts readily when heated as iron filings, forms orange sparks and a black solid, and slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature.
• Zinc (Zn) reacts steadily when heated forming a yellow solid which changes to white on cooling.

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• Calcium (Ca) reacts vigorously with oxygen when heated and at room temperature.
• Sodium (Na) reacts vigorously with oxygen when heated and at room temperature.
• Copper(Cu) slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature.
• Iron (Fe) reacts readily with oxygen when heated as iron filings.
• Copper(Cu) reacts on heating to form a black solid.
• Aluminium (Al) reacts readily with oxygen when heated and at room temperature as a powder.
• Magnesium (Mg) reacts readily with oxygen when heated and at room temperature.
• Potassium (K) reacts vigorously with oxygen when heated and at room temperature.
• Zinc (Zn) reacts steadily when heated forming a yellow solid which changes to white on cooling.