Reactivity Series
Reactivity Series
Reactivity Series
Reactivity Series
• There are lots of different metals on Earth and
they all behave differently.
• You may have tested properties of many metals.
For example, strength and hardness. These are
physical properties.
• The chemical properties are also important.
How fast they react with water or acid is a
chemical property.
Reactivity Series
• Let us look at the 4 metals – copper, iron,
magnesium and zinc.
Reactivity Series
• When each of these metals are added to
hydrochloric acid (HCl) they react. Some react
faster than others.
• Let us now take a look at the reactions.
Reactivity Series
• Can you put the metals into the order of
reactivity (with the most reactive first and the
least reactive last)?
• 1 – Magnesium (Mg)
• 2 – Zinc (Zn) Most reactive
• 3 – Iron (Fe)
• 4 – Copper (Cu)
Least reactive
Metal Displacement Reactions
• The metals displacement reaction can be quite
confusing, so pay attention very carefully!!!
• In this reaction we are going to react the four metals
we have just looked at (Cu, Fe, Mg, Zn) with different
solutions.
• The solutions are:
• Copper sulphate
• Magnesium sulphate
Salt solutions
• Iron sulphate
• Zinc sulphate
Metal Displacement Reactions
Mg Zn Fe Cu
MgSO4
ZnSO4
FeSO4
CuSO4
• The first reaction takes place because the metal (red) is more reactive
than the metal in the sulphate solution (green). So the more reactive
metal can displace (‘kick out’) the less reactive metal.
• The second reaction doesn’t take place because the metal (red) is less
reactive than the metal in the sulphate solution (green). So the less
reactive metal cannot displace (‘kick out’) the more reactive metal.
Metal Displacement Reactions
• Let’s look at an analogy to help us understand.
+
magnesium + copper sulphate
(Mg) (Cu) (SO4)
Metal Displacement Reaction
Cu + MgSO4 Cu + MgSO4