The reactivity series

• what are the trends in reactivities of metals in reactions with acids/water?

  • metals above H2 in reactivity react with acid to produce H2, the more reactive the metal is, the quicker and more violent reaction with acid occurs
  • metals below H2 don’t react with acid aluminium is the borderline case
  • not all metals above H2 react with water - mostly group 1 and 2 metals
• what is a displacement reaction?

  reaction where a more reactive metals displaces a less reactive metal from a compound