The reactivity series of metals
The reactivity series of metals is a chart listing metals in order of decreasing reactivity. In general, the more reactive a metal is:
- the more vigorously it reacts with other substances
- the more easily it loses electrons to form positive ions cation A positive ion.
We can examine the reactivity of metals by observing their reactions with oxygen, water, steam and whether it displaces other metals in displacement reactionIs a reaction in which a more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive metal in a compound.
This table summarises the reactions of some metals in the reactivity series.
| Metal | Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature) | Reaction with water | Reaction with steam | Reactivity |
| Potassium (K) | Reacts vigorous when heated. Lilac flame and white solid formed. Tarnishes when freshly cut at room temperature | Reacts vigorously. Floats on the surface. Moves and fizzes. Burns with a lilac flame. Heat is released. Crackle as it disappears. Colourless solution remains. | Reaction too dangerous to be attempted. | Most reactive |
| Sodium (Na) | Reacts vigorously when heated. Yellow/orange flame and white solid formed. Tarnishes when freshly cut at room temperature | Reacts vigorously. Floats on the surface. Moves and fizzes. Melts to form a silvery ball. Heat is released. Crackle as it disappears. Colourless solution remains. | Reaction too dangerous to be attempted. | ⬆ |
| Calcium (Ca) | Reacts vigorously with strong heating. Brick red flame and white solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature | Reacts readily. Fizzes. Grey solid sinks then rises. Heat is released. Grey solid disappears. Solution appears milky. | Reaction too dangerous to be attempted. | ⬆ |
| Magnesium (Mg) | Reacts readily with strong heating. White light and white solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature | Very slow reaction. A few bubbles of gas produced. | Reacts on strong heating. White light and white solid formed. | ⬆ |
| Aluminium (Al) | Reacts readily with strong heating as a powder. White solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature | No reaction | Reacts as a powder on strong heating. White solid formed. | ⬆ |
| Zinc (Zn) | Reacts steadily when heated forming a yellow solid which changes to white on cooling. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature | No reaction | Reacts as a powder on strong heating. Yellow solid forms which changes to white on cooling. | ⬆ |
| Iron (Fe) | Reacts readily when heated as iron filings. Orange sparks and black solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature | No reaction | Reacts as a powder on very strong heating. Black solid formed. | ⬆ |
| Copper(Cu) | Reacts on heating to form a black solid. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature | No reaction | No reaction | Least reactive |
| Metal | Potassium (K) |
|---|---|
| Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature) | Reacts vigorous when heated. Lilac flame and white solid formed. Tarnishes when freshly cut at room temperature |
| Reaction with water | Reacts vigorously. Floats on the surface. Moves and fizzes. Burns with a lilac flame. Heat is released. Crackle as it disappears. Colourless solution remains. |
| Reaction with steam | Reaction too dangerous to be attempted. |
| Reactivity | Most reactive |
| Metal | Sodium (Na) |
|---|---|
| Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature) | Reacts vigorously when heated. Yellow/orange flame and white solid formed. Tarnishes when freshly cut at room temperature |
| Reaction with water | Reacts vigorously. Floats on the surface. Moves and fizzes. Melts to form a silvery ball. Heat is released. Crackle as it disappears. Colourless solution remains. |
| Reaction with steam | Reaction too dangerous to be attempted. |
| Reactivity | ⬆ |
| Metal | Calcium (Ca) |
|---|---|
| Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature) | Reacts vigorously with strong heating. Brick red flame and white solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature |
| Reaction with water | Reacts readily. Fizzes. Grey solid sinks then rises. Heat is released. Grey solid disappears. Solution appears milky. |
| Reaction with steam | Reaction too dangerous to be attempted. |
| Reactivity | ⬆ |
| Metal | Magnesium (Mg) |
|---|---|
| Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature) | Reacts readily with strong heating. White light and white solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature |
| Reaction with water | Very slow reaction. A few bubbles of gas produced. |
| Reaction with steam | Reacts on strong heating. White light and white solid formed. |
| Reactivity | ⬆ |
| Metal | Aluminium (Al) |
|---|---|
| Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature) | Reacts readily with strong heating as a powder. White solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature |
| Reaction with water | No reaction |
| Reaction with steam | Reacts as a powder on strong heating. White solid formed. |
| Reactivity | ⬆ |
| Metal | Zinc (Zn) |
|---|---|
| Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature) | Reacts steadily when heated forming a yellow solid which changes to white on cooling. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature |
| Reaction with water | No reaction |
| Reaction with steam | Reacts as a powder on strong heating. Yellow solid forms which changes to white on cooling. |
| Reactivity | ⬆ |
| Metal | Iron (Fe) |
|---|---|
| Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature) | Reacts readily when heated as iron filings. Orange sparks and black solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature |
| Reaction with water | No reaction |
| Reaction with steam | Reacts as a powder on very strong heating. Black solid formed. |
| Reactivity | ⬆ |
| Metal | Copper(Cu) |
|---|---|
| Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature) | Reacts on heating to form a black solid. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature |
| Reaction with water | No reaction |
| Reaction with steam | No reaction |
| Reactivity | Least reactive |