Reactivity Series
Year 8 🌿 Materials & Environment Order metals by reactivity; predict displacement reactions.
📋 The Reactivity Series
The reactivity series lists metals in order from most to least reactive.
Order (most → least reactive)
$$\text{K} > \text{Na} > \text{Ca} > \text{Mg} > \text{Al} > \text{Zn} > \text{Fe} > \text{Pb} > [\text{H}] > \text{Cu} > \text{Ag} > \text{Au}$$ Mnemonic: Potassium Naughty Camels Make A Zillion Funny Lions Have Clever Silver Gaits
🔄 Displacement Reactions
A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution.
Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu
Iron (more reactive) displaces copper. Blue solution fades; orange copper deposits on iron nail.
Iron (more reactive) displaces copper. Blue solution fades; orange copper deposits on iron nail.
If A is above B: A displaces B from B's salt solutions. If A is below B: no reaction.
⛏️ Metal Extraction
| Reactivity | Extraction method |
|---|---|
| Very reactive (K, Na, Al) | Electrolysis of molten compound |
| Moderately reactive (Zn, Fe) | Reduction with carbon/coke |
| Least reactive (Cu, Ag, Au) | Found native or simple heating |
Ready to test yourself? Click the Quiz tab above to practise questions on this topic!
Interactive Demonstration — Reactivity Series
Drag the metals to arrange them by reactivity (most reactive at top).
Metals (shuffle to sort)
Reactivity Series (most → least)
1. Potassium (K) ← most reactive
2. Sodium (Na)
3. Calcium (Ca)
4. Magnesium (Mg)
5. Aluminium (Al)
6. Zinc (Zn)
7. Iron (Fe)
8. Lead (Pb)
9. Copper (Cu)
10. Gold (Au) ← least reactive
Click a metal to see its position and properties.
📋 Reactivity Predictor
Calculate whether a displacement reaction is feasible and find mass of displaced metal.