ChemistryCode 5070
Reactivity series
What this topic asks you to be able to do
- Give the sequence in which potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, carbon, zinc, iron, hydrogen, copper, silver, gold appear in the reactivity series.
- Describe the relative reactivities of metals, based on the tendency of each to form positive ions, from any displacement reactions they undergo with the aqueous ions of magnesium, zinc, iron, copper and silver
- Describe the reactions taking place, if any, when potassium, sodium and calcium meet cold water, magnesium meets steam, and magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, silver and gold meet dilute hydrochloric acid; then explain these outcomes using where the metals sit in the reactivity series.
- Explain why aluminium appears to be unreactive, with reference to its oxide layer
- Deduce a reactivity order from a supplied set of experimental results.