The Reactivity Series

The Reactivity Series- how Well a Metal Reacts

Very Reactive:

• Potassium
• Sodium
• Lithium
• Calcium

Fairly Reactive

• Magnesium
• Aluminium
• Zinc

Not Very Reactive

• Iron
• Copper

Not at all reactive

• Silver
• Gold

A More Reactive Metal Displaces a Less Reactive Metal

• More reactive metals react mroe strongly than less reactive metals
• This means that a more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from it's oxide because it will bond more strongly to the oxygen

Example: iron would be displaced from iron oxide by the more reactive metal aluminium 

iron oxide + aluminium = almunium oxide + iron

Fe2O3 + 2Al = Al2O3 + 2Fe

• Metal compounds like copper sulfate, zinc chloride and sodium chloride are…