The Reactivity Series & Displacement Reactions

• Reactivity just means how easily a metal forms positive ions
• Carbon and Hydrogen aren't metals but are included in the reactivity series as references
• Group 1 metals are the most reactive
• Transition metals are not very reactove
• Metal + Acid --> Salt + Hydrogen Gas
• Reactions get less violent as you go down the series
• Potassium will potentially catch fire and move fast but magnesium will just bubble.
• Copper usually doesn't react at all
• We can measure the temperature change of reactions, as the most reactive metals produce the most heat.
• To ensure a fair test use metals of the same mass/surface area and use the same type and concentration of acid.
• Metal + Water --> Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen
• Only the most reactive metals can react with water
• Displacement reactions

  • More reactive metals can displace less reactive ones
  • For example: Magnesium + Iron Sulfate --> Magnesium Sulfate + Iron
  • But if we added copper nothing would happen as it is less reactive than iron