Reactions of Metals

• Metals React With Acids

  1. Metals react with acids to produce salt and hydrogen

  2. Magnesium + hydrochloric acid → magnesium chloride + hydrogen

  3. Iron + hydrochloric acid → iron chloride + hydrogen

  4. Zinc + sulfuric acid → zinc sulfate + hydrogen

  5. Iron + hydrochloric acid → iron chloride + hydrogen
• Reactivity of metals with acids

  • Highly reactive metals like potassium and sodium react explosively with acids
  • Less reactive metals like magnesium, zinc and iron react less violently with acids
  • Copper and less reactive metals generally do not react with cold, dilute acids
• Metals React with Water


  1. Metal + Water → Metal Hydride + Hydrogen

  2. Calcium + Water → Calcium Hydroxide + Hydrogen

  3. Potassium, sodium, lithium and calcium will all react with water

  4. Less reactive metals like iron, nickel and copper won't react with water
• Reactivity Series


  Order of metals from most reactive to least reactive based on their reactions with acids or water
• Comparing Reactivity of Metals

  1. Watch how quickly hydrogen bubbles form in reactions with water or acid

  2. Measure the temperature change of the reaction in a set time period
• More reactive metals


  Can displace less reactive metals from their compounds
• Displacement Reaction


  • Iron displaces copper from copper sulfate solution
• A more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from its compound