Reactivity Series Worksheet

By reacting metals with oxygen, acids and water, scientists have been able to construct a table of metals, listing them in order from the most to the least reactive.

This table is called the reactivity series:

The metals at the top are so reactive that they can even set on fire or explode when stored in water. They also tarnish (go dull) very quickly when exposed to air.

The picture below shows the explosive reaction produced when potassium is placed in water:

Metals near the bottom of the series are unreactive. Platinum, for example, will not corrode in air or react with acids. This makes it an ideal metal to make jewellery from as it will not tarnish or be damaged by chemicals.

The picture below shows jewellery made from platinum.

Rings - stock photo

The reactivity series may seem complicated, but there is an easy way to remember it, using this simple pneumonic (or you can make up your own!).

Police Sergeant Charlie MACZITL Has Caught Me Stealing Gold Plates

Burglar

In which order does the reactivity series list metals?

they are not in a specific order

least reactive to most reactive

aphabetical order

most reactive to least reactive

Place the metals in the correct order of reactivity by comparing their reactivity to aluminium (i.e. are they more reactive than aluminium or less reactive?).

Column A	Column B
potassium	more reactive
copper	less reactive
magnesium	more reactive
gold	more reactive
sodium	less reactive

Place the metals in the correct order of reactivity by comparing their reactivity to iron (are they more reactive than iron or less reactive?).

Column A	Column B
calcium	less reactive
mercury	less reactive
zinc	more reactive
lead	more reactive
silver	less reactive

Which of the following metals is most likely to react with water?

copper

sodium

silver

gold

Which of the following would not be a suitable material to use in the manufacture of jewellery? Tick three boxes.

magnesium

copper

calcium

silver

aluminium

What term is used to describe a metal that has become dull due to its reaction with air or other substances?

old

pitted

tarnished

Which THREE of the following did scientists react elements with in order to produce the reactivity series?

water

helium

nitrogen

oxygen

acid

Place these two metals in order of reactivity from the highest to the lowest.

	Most Reactive	Least Reactive
Lead
Silver

Place the metals in the correct order of reactivity by comparing their reactivity to copper.

Column A	Column B
silver	less reactive
mercury	more reactive
lead	less reactive
gold	more reactive
hydrogen	less reactive

The reactivity series is used, as you have seen, to extract metals from their ores. This is often done by using a more reactive element, like carbon, to react with the ore and so leave the metal, like iron, on its own.

This sort of reaction has many other uses too and the reactivity series can be used to predict what will happen.

Another example is the thermite reaction which is used to weld steel railway rails together. This is the reaction between iron oxide and the metal aluminium. The reaction is highly exothermic (gives out heat) and the iron produced is in the molten state. This molten iron can then be used to mend broken railway tracks, as can be seen in the picture below:

Thermite reaction welding rails

Look at this reaction again and then use that information to place aluminium and iron in their correct order in the reactivity series.

Column A	Column B
silver	less reactive
mercury	more reactive
lead	less reactive
gold	more reactive
hydrogen	less reactive

ANSWERS

Question 1

In which order does the reactivity series list metals?

CORRECT ANSWER

most reactive to least reactive

EDDIE SAYS

The metals are listed according to their reactivity, with the most reactive at the top and the least reactive at the bottom.

ANSWERS

Question 2

Place the metals in the correct order of reactivity by comparing their reactivity to aluminium (i.e. are they more reactive than aluminium or less reactive?).

CORRECT ANSWER

Column A	Column B
potassium	more reactive
copper	less reactive
magnesium	more reactive
gold	less reactive
sodium	more reactive

EDDIE SAYS

Have another look at the reactivity series and familiarise yourself with the order:

ANSWERS

Question 3

Place the metals in the correct order of reactivity by comparing their reactivity to iron (are they more reactive than iron or less reactive?).

CORRECT ANSWER

Column A	Column B
calcium	more reactive
mercury	less reactive
zinc	more reactive
lead	less reactive
silver	less reactive

EDDIE SAYS

Calcium and zinc are more reactive than iron, but mercury, lead and silver are less reactive. If you use the pneumonic or made up your own you probably found this question straight forward!

ANSWERS

Question 4

Which of the following metals is most likely to react with water?

CORRECT ANSWER

sodium

EDDIE SAYS

Sodium is very reactive and alights (sets on fire) when placed in water, to produce hydrogen gas and a bright yellow flame.

ANSWERS

Question 5

Which of the following would not be a suitable material to use in the manufacture of jewellery? Tick three boxes.

CORRECT ANSWER

magnesium
calcium
aluminium

EDDIE SAYS

Silver and copper have been used for many thousands of years to manufacture jewellery because of their appearance and low reactivity. The others are all way too reactive and so would tarnish or corrode and so not look all that sparkly!

ANSWERS

Question 6

What term is used to describe a metal that has become dull due to its reaction with air or other substances?

CORRECT ANSWER

tarnished

EDDIE SAYS

Metals that become dull when exposed to air are described as being tarnished. Potassium metal is a bright silver when cut but tarnishes in seconds when exposed to air because it is so reactive.

ANSWERS

Question 7

Which THREE of the following did scientists react elements with in order to produce the reactivity series?

CORRECT ANSWER

water
oxygen
acid

EDDIE SAYS

Helium and nitrogen are very unreactive gases and would have no effect on any metals. The others are not only readily available and cheap but because they are an oxide (water) or a salt (acids) or pure oxygen, this can be used to measure an element's ability to combine with oxygen or to make a salt.

ANSWERS

Question 8

Place these two metals in order of reactivity from the highest to the lowest.

CORRECT ANSWER

	Most Reactive	Least Reactive
Lead
Silver

EDDIE SAYS

Although lead is fairly unreactive, it does tarnish whereas silver generally retains its sparkle!

ANSWERS

Question 9

Place the metals in the correct order of reactivity by comparing their reactivity to copper.

CORRECT ANSWER

Column A	Column B
silver	less reactive
mercury	less reactive
lead	more reactive
gold	less reactive
hydrogen	more reactive

EDDIE SAYS

Hydrogen is the only non-metal that is often included in the reactivity series.

ANSWERS

Question 10

The reactivity series is used, as you have seen, to extract metals from their ores. This is often done by using a more reactive element, like carbon, to react with the ore and so leave the metal, like iron, on its own.

This sort of reaction has many other uses too and the reactivity series can be used to predict what will happen.

Another example is the thermite reaction which is used to weld steel railway rails together. This is the reaction between iron oxide and the metal aluminium. The reaction is highly exothermic (gives out heat) and the iron produced is in the molten state. This molten iron can then be used to mend broken railway tracks, as can be seen in the picture below:

Thermite reaction welding rails

Look at this reaction again and then use that information to place aluminium and iron in their correct order in the reactivity series.

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

So, how does the reaction go? Iron oxide and aluminium are added together - they are the reactants. What is the product that welds rails together? Molten iron. So iron oxide has been changed to iron through its reaction with aluminium, which is clearly more reactive.