The Reactivity Series
Master The Reactivity Series for GCSE Chemistry with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA, Edexcel and OCR. The reactivity series ranks metals by how readily they lose electrons, from potassium (most reactive) down to gold.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
The reactivity series lists metals in order of how readily they react, with the most reactive at the top. The order is potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, copper, silver and gold.
Carbon and hydrogen are included in the series even though they are non-metals, because their position determines how a metal can be extracted and whether it will react with acid.
A more reactive metal will displace a less reactive metal from a compound. This is how reactivity can be tested experimentally, and the reactions with water and with dilute acid also reveal the order, becoming less vigorous further down the series.
Revision notes
The order
Potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, carbon, zinc, iron, hydrogen, copper, silver, gold.
Carbon and hydrogen are included because their positions determine extraction methods and reactions with acids.
Reactions with water and acid
Potassium, sodium and calcium react with cold water, producing a hydroxide and hydrogen.
Magnesium, zinc and iron react with dilute acid producing a salt and hydrogen, more vigorously the higher up the series. Copper, silver and gold do not react with dilute acid.
Displacement reactions
A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from a compound.
For example, magnesium + copper sulfate → magnesium sulfate + copper. The blue solution fades and a pink-brown solid appears. This provides an experimental test of the order.
Key points
- The reactivity series orders metals by how readily they react.
- Potassium is the most reactive of those listed.
- Gold is the least reactive.
- Carbon and hydrogen are included in the series.
- A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one.
- Reactions become less vigorous further down.
Worked examples
Example 1
Explain what happens when magnesium is added to copper sulfate solution. [3 marks]
Model answer
Magnesium is more reactive than copper, so it displaces the copper from the compound (1 mark). Magnesium sulfate solution and copper metal are formed (1 mark). The blue colour of the solution fades and a pink-brown solid appears (1 mark).
Example 2
Explain why copper does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid. [2 marks]
Model answer
Copper is below hydrogen in the reactivity series (1 mark), so it is not reactive enough to displace hydrogen from the acid (1 mark).
Example 3
Explain why carbon is included in the reactivity series. [2 marks]
Model answer
Its position determines which metals can be extracted by reduction with carbon (1 mark) — metals below carbon can be extracted this way, and those above cannot (1 mark).
Common mistakes
Predicting a displacement that cannot occur.
Only a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one.
Leaving carbon and hydrogen out of the series.
Their positions are essential for extraction and acid reactions.
Saying copper reacts with acid.
It is below hydrogen, so it does not.
Describing the reaction without observations.
Colour changes and solid formation usually carry marks.
Exam tips
- Learn the series in order, including carbon and hydrogen.
- Check the relative positions before predicting a reaction.
- Give observations as well as products.
- Use hydrogen's position to decide acid reactions.
Key terms
- Reactivity series
- A list of metals in order of how readily they react.
- Displacement
- A more reactive element taking the place of a less reactive one.
- Native metal
- A metal found uncombined, such as gold.
- Ore
- A rock containing enough metal compound to be worth extracting.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.