Reactivity series definition: The reactivity series is a collection of metals arranged in order of increasing reactivity. As a result, a reactivity series of metals can be defined as a group of metals arranged in decreasing order of reactivity. It's sometimes referred to as an activity series. Metals have reactivity due to their incomplete outer orbitals or their electrical structure. Because metals tend to lose electrons, they generate positively charged ions. Because their electrons are far from the positively charged nucleus, metals with high atomic numbers are more reactive. As a result, they can be simply removed. The table is the long tabular list of reactive metals:
NEET 2025: Mock Test Series | Syllabus | High Scoring Topics | PYQs
JEE Main: Study Materials | High Scoring Topics | Preparation Guide
JEE Main: Syllabus | Sample Papers | Mock Tests | PYQs
Also read -
Metal | Ion |
Caesium (Cs) | Cs+ |
Rubidium (Rb) | Rb+ |
Potassium (K) | K+ |
Sodium (Na) | Na+ |
Lithium (Li) | Li+ |
Radium (Ra) | Ra2+ |
Barium (Ba) | Ba2+ |
Strontium (Sr) | Sr2+ |
Calcium (Ca) | Ca2+ |
Magnesium (Mg) | Mg2+ |
Beryllium (Be) | Be2+ |
Aluminum (Al) | Al2+ |
Titanium (Ti) | Ti4+ |
Manganese (Mn) | Mn2+ |
Zinc (Zn) | Zn2+ |
Chromium (Cr) | Cr3+ |
Iron (Fe) | Fe2+ |
Cadmium (Cd) | Cd2+ |
Cobalt (Co) | Co2+ |
Nickel (Ni) | Ni2+ |
Tin (Sn) | Sn2+ |
Lead (Pb) | Pb2+ |
Antimony (Sb) | Sb3+ |
Bismuth (Bi) | Bi3+ |
Copper (Cu) | Cu2+ |
Tungsten (W) | W3+ |
Mercury (Hg) | Hg2+ |
Silver (Ag) | Ag+ |
Gold (Au) | Au3+ |
Platinum (Pt) | Pt4+ |
In a reactive series of metals, the most reactive element is placed at the top thus, the most reactive metal is Caesium and the least reactive metal is placed at the bottom of the reactive series of metals thus, the least reactive metal is platinum.
Also read :
Potassium (Please) Sodium (Stop) Calcium (Calling) Magnesium (Me) Aluminum (A) Carbon (Careless) Zinc (Zebra) Iron (Instead) Tin (Try) Lead (Learning) Hydrogen (How) Copper (Copper) Silver (Saves) Gold (Gold)
Please stop calling me a careless zebra instead try learning how copper saves gold.
This statement helps to learn the reactive series of metals.
We already know that a metal activity series is a list of metals arranged in declining order of their reactivities. The reactive series tells you whether or not a metal may displace another in a single displacement reaction. It also contains information on metal reactivity in the presence of water and acid.
A metal hydroxide and hydrogen are generated when it reacts with water . Sodium, for example, reacts quickly with cold water:
2Na(s)+2H2O(l)2NaOH(aq)+H2(g)
The more reactive the metal, the faster the reaction. Aluminum is unique in that it is a reactive metal that does not corrode when exposed to water. The surface of the iot naturally generates a thin coating of aluminium oxide, which keeps water away from the metal beneath.
Related Topics Link, |
When magnesium is first added to water, it reacts slowly, but a coating of insoluble magnesium hydroxide forms. This shields the metal and prevents it from reacting. When steam is run over hot magnesium, however, a strong reaction occurs:
Mg(s)+H2O(g)MgO(s)+H2(g)
Magnesium is oxidised, gaining oxygen to form magnesium oxide, while water is reduced in this reaction. It loses oxygen in order to produce hydrogen. The relative resistance to oxidation of a metal is proportional to its position in the reactivity series; in general, the lower a metal's position in the reactivity series, the stronger its resistance to oxidation.
A salt and hydrogen are generated when a metal combines with a dilute acid. Magnesium, for example, reacts quickly with dilute hydrochloric acids;
Mg(s)+2HCl(aq)MgCl2(aq)+H2(g)
The more reactive the metal, the quicker the reaction. A metal in the reactivity series below hydrogen will not react with dilute acids.
Only a metal that fits above it in the reactivity sequence can displace another metal from a complex. When a more reactive metal (one that forms positive ions more easily) displaces a less reactive reactive metal from a compound, a displacement reaction occurs.
Example- Magnesium is more reactive than copper, hence the reaction will be:
Mg(s)+CuSO4(aq)MgSO4(aq)+Cu(s)
platinum, however, is less reactive than copper and thus can't displace copper from the solution for copper sulphate. Silver is less reactive than copper and is therefore not removing the solution for copper sulphate.
Most metals are only present in compounds because they have already reacted with other elements. As a result, the metal must be removed from the ore containing the metal complex.
The below table shows the reactivity of common and most used metals which can react with water or acids:
Metal | Reactivity |
Potassium | Reacts with water. |
Sodium | |
Lithium | |
Barium | |
Strontium | |
Calcium | |
Magnesium | Reacts with acid |
Aluminum | |
Manganese | |
Zinc | |
Chromium | |
Iron | |
Cadmium | |
Cobalt | |
Nickel | |
Tin | |
Lead | |
Hydrogen | Include for comparison. |
Antimony | Highly unreactive |
Bismuth | |
Copper | |
Mercury | |
Silver | |
Gold | |
Platinum |
Metals ranging from potassium to calcium are extremely reactive, reacting even with water. Acids can react with metals ranging from magnesium to lead. In normal settings, metals ranging from copper to platinum are highly unreactive and do not react with any other substance. This is why platinum and gold are resistant to corrosion and do not create oxides. Metals like zinc, aluminium, magnesium, and calcium, on the other hand, readily form oxide.
Although hydrogen is a nonmetal, it is included in the reactivity series because it aids in the comparison of metal reactivity and also used in extraction of metals. Carbon is also placed in the reactive series and metals like zinc and iron can be displaced by the oxides of carbon and metal like copper can be extracted using carbon and hydrogen.
NCERT Chemistry Notes:
As we progress through the reactivity series, the electropositive character decreases. In the presence of oxygen, potassium and sodium make superoxide, but in the absence of oxygen, they produce their own oxides.
K+O2→KO2
Because we progress down the reactivity series, metals' reducing power increases. As a result, potassium is the most powerful reducing agent.
As we progress through the activity series, the tendency for metals to become oxidised is reduced.
Also, as we progress down the reactivity scale, metals' capacity to convert water to hydrogen decreases. Because potassium and sodium are very reactive, they combine with cold water to produce hydrogen gas, which is ignited by the heat generated during the reaction.
2K+2H2O→2KOH+H2
All metals in the activity series above hydrogen have the ability to liberate hydrogen gas by reducing hydrogen ions from dilute hydrochloric or sulphuric acid.
A metal higher in the reactivity series can replace a metal lower in the series to form the latter metal's salt solutions. The faster the displacement reaction, the greater the gap between the locations of two metals.
Common reducing agents are incapable of reducing metal oxides such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and aluminum.
Also check-
The metal reactivity sequence, also known as the set of operations, is the order in which metals' reactivities are organized. Metals have a proclivity for losing electrons and forming cations. Some lead to the formation of metal oxides with the ambient oxygen.
The boiling point of non-metal characteristics is low, and other non-metals are gases. Similarly, non-metals do not conduct heat well, and solid nonmetals are dull and brittle. Many nonmetals are very reactive, whereas others are completely inert. The number of electrons in the outer quantity of energy determines this.
Ans: Among all the elements in the periodic table, gold is one of the least reactive. Gold does not react with oxygen found in the air, water, or alkalis. That is why it does not corrode. It does not, however, react with halogens.
The reactivity series shows metal in order of reactivity. The reactivity of a metal can be determined by observing its responses in both competition and displacement processes. It shows the reactivity of metal towards water and acid and also it helps in the displacement reactions and for the extraction of metals.
Transition metals are the elements in the periodic table that are far less reactive, with metals like gold and platinum near the bottom of the list, demonstrating little in the way of chemical reactivity with common reagents.
12 Mar'25 09:34 AM
06 Feb'25 11:45 PM
06 Feb'25 11:36 PM
09 Jan'25 03:51 PM
16 Dec'24 11:23 PM
13 Nov'24 03:53 PM
23 Sep'24 01:11 PM