Metals like zinc, aluminium, magnesium, and calcium, on the other hand, readily form oxide. This is why platinum and gold are resistant to corrosion and do not create oxides. In normal settings, metals ranging from copper to platinum are highly unreactive and do not react with any other substance. Acids can react with metals ranging from magnesium to lead. Metals ranging from potassium to calcium are extremely reactive, reacting even with water. The below table shows the reactivity of common and most used metals which can react with water or acids: As a result, the metal must be removed from the ore containing the metal complex.
Most metals are only present in compounds because they have already reacted with other elements. Silver is less reactive than copper and is therefore not removing the solution for copper sulphate. Platinum, however, is less reactive than copper and thus can't displace copper from the solution for copper sulphate. 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.Įxample- Magnesium is more reactive than copper, hence the reaction will be: Only a metal that fits above it in the reactivity sequence can displace another metal from a complex.
A metal in the reactivity series below hydrogen will not react with dilute acids. The more reactive the metal, the quicker the reaction. Magnesium, for example, reacts quickly with dilute hydrochloric acids Reaction of metals with dilute acids:Ī salt and hydrogen are generated when a metal combines with a dilute acid. 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. It loses oxygen in order to produce hydrogen. Magnesium is oxidised, gaining oxygen to form magnesium oxide, while water is reduced in this reaction. When steam is run over hot magnesium, however, a strong reaction occurs: This shields the metal and prevents it from reacting. When magnesium is first added to water, it reacts slowly, but a coating of insoluble magnesium hydroxide forms. Periodic Trends in Ionisation Enthalpy of Elements.Modern Periodic Table Modern Periodic Law.
Rutherfords Model of Atoms and Its Limitations.Electronic Configuration of First 30 Elements.The surface of the iot naturally generates a thin coating of aluminium oxide, which keeps water away from the metal beneath. Aluminum is unique in that it is a reactive metal that does not corrode when exposed to water. The more reactive the metal, the faster the reaction. Sodium, for example, reacts quickly with cold water: Reaction of metals with water:Ī metal hydroxide and hydrogen are generated when it reacts with water. It also contains information on metal reactivity in the presence of water and acid. The reactive series tells you whether or not a metal may displace another in a single displacement reaction. We already know that a metal activity series is a list of metals arranged in declining order of their reactivities. Important uses of Activity or reactive series: This statement helps to learn the reactive series of metals. Please stop calling me a careless zebra instead try learning how copper saves gold. 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) The short trick to remembering reactivity series:
NCERT notes Class 11 Chemistry Chapter 3 Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties.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.