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The reactivity series: water, acids and displacement
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How metals react with water, acids, oxides and salt solutions lets us put them in order of reactivity.
The order to learn
potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold
Most reactive at the start; least reactive at the end.
Most reactive at the start; least reactive at the end.
With water and acids
Water: potassium, sodium and lithium react with cold water (fizzing, forming a hydroxide and hydrogen). Calcium reacts steadily. Magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water but faster with steam (forming its oxide and hydrogen). Copper, silver and gold do not react.
Dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acid: metal + acid → salt + hydrogen. Magnesium fizzes quickly, zinc steadily, iron slowly; copper does not react.
Practical: add equal-sized pieces of magnesium, zinc and iron to the same volume and concentration of acid. Compare the bubbling and the temperature rise.
Dilute hydrochloric or sulfuric acid: metal + acid → salt + hydrogen. Magnesium fizzes quickly, zinc steadily, iron slowly; copper does not react.
Practical: add equal-sized pieces of magnesium, zinc and iron to the same volume and concentration of acid. Compare the bubbling and the temperature rise.
Displacement
A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compounds.
With a metal oxide (heated): magnesium + copper(II) oxide → magnesium oxide + copper
With a salt solution: zinc + copper(II) sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper (the blue colour fades and pink-brown copper forms)
If the metal added is less reactive, there is no reaction.
With a metal oxide (heated): magnesium + copper(II) oxide → magnesium oxide + copper
With a salt solution: zinc + copper(II) sulfate → zinc sulfate + copper (the blue colour fades and pink-brown copper forms)
If the metal added is less reactive, there is no reaction.
Will iron react with zinc sulfate solution? Explain.
- Iron is below zinc in the reactivity series.
- A less reactive metal cannot displace a more reactive one.
Answer: No: iron is less reactive than zinc.
Order: K, Na, Li, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au. More reactive metals react faster with water and acids. A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one from its oxide or salt solution.
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