The reactivity series Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (9–1) revision
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In plain words
Some metals are desperate to react and others can't be bothered. Potassium explodes in water; gold sits in the ground for a million years and stays shiny. Put the metals in order of how keen they are and you have the reactivity series. A keener metal will always push a less keen one out of its compounds.
Three things to know
- From most to least reactive: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, (carbon), zinc, iron, (hydrogen), copper, silver, gold.
- Potassium, sodium and calcium react with cold water. Metals above hydrogen react with dilute acids. Copper, silver and gold do not.
- A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one: Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu. Reactivity is how easily a metal loses electrons to form positive ions.
Worked example
Metal X displaces metal Y from a solution of its salt. Metal Z reacts with cold water but X does not. Put them in order of reactivity.
- X displaces Y, so X is more reactive than Y.
- Z reacts with cold water and X doesn't, so Z is more reactive than X.
- Z, then X, then Y.
Tips and tricks
- A sentence for the order: "Please Send Cats, Monkeys And Cute Zebras Into Hot Countries Signed Gordon" (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, C, Zn, Fe, H, Cu, Ag, Au).
- No reaction is still an answer. A metal can't displace one that is above it.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
The reactivity series: 6 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
Which of these metals is the most reactive?
It is at the top of the reactivity series.
Which metal reacts with cold water?
The metals at the top of the series react with cold water.
An iron nail is put into copper(II) sulfate solution. What happens?
Iron is more reactive than copper.
Which metal will not react with dilute acid?
Silver is below hydrogen in the series.
Which metal can displace zinc from zinc sulfate solution?
Only a metal above zinc in the series can displace it.
What does the reactivity of a metal depend on?
The most reactive metals lose their outer electrons most readily.
Quiz
6 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
4 questions, 7 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
The reactivity series
Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (9–1) 0973 · 7 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
Zinc is added to blue copper(II) sulfate solution. Give two things you would see.[2]
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The blue colour fades (to colourless), and a pink-brown solid (copper) forms on the zinc.
Explain why copper does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid.[1]
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It is below hydrogen in the reactivity series (it is less reactive than hydrogen).
Magnesium powder is heated with copper(II) oxide. Name the products and explain why the reaction happens.[2]
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Magnesium oxide and copper. Magnesium is more reactive than copper, so it takes the oxygen.
Explain, in terms of electrons, why magnesium is more reactive than copper.[2]
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Magnesium loses its outer electrons to form positive ions more easily than copper does.
Answers: The reactivity series
- 1. The blue colour fades (to colourless), and a pink-brown solid (copper) forms on the zinc.
- 2. It is below hydrogen in the reactivity series (it is less reactive than hydrogen).
- 3. Magnesium oxide and copper. Magnesium is more reactive than copper, so it takes the oxygen.
- 4. Magnesium loses its outer electrons to form positive ions more easily than copper does.