The reactivity series
Show on a big screenCopper gives no reaction with water, steam or dilute acid. It is near the bottom of a list of metals.
The rule
The reactivity series lists metals from most reactive to least reactive. A metal displaces any metal below it from its salt solution. The exceptions are K, Na and Ca. They react with the water first. Metals above hydrogen release hydrogen from dilute acids.
| Most reactive to least reactive |
|---|
| K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Pb, [H], Cu, Hg, Ag, Au |
In order, the symbols are potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and aluminium. Next are zinc, iron, lead, hydrogen and copper. Last come mercury, silver and gold.
Hydrogen is not a metal. In this list it is a marker. Metals above it fizz with dilute acid. Metals below it do not.
Worked example
Does zinc displace copper from copper sulphate? Zinc is above copper in the series, so yes. Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu.
Does copper displace iron from iron sulphate? Copper is below iron, so no. There is no reaction.
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Try the lab to finish this lesson.