Reactivity Of the metals

In the Reactivity Series, metals are arranged from the most reactive to the least
reactive.

So how is the order of reactivity of metals being determined?

The order of reactivity of metals are determined by the scientists based on the:

 Reaction of metals with cold water or steam

 Reaction of metals with dilute acids such as hydrochloric acid

Determining the Order of Reactivity of Metals

A) Reaction of Metals with Cold Water or Steam

The more reactive metals tend to react with cold water to form metal hydroxide (alkaline
solution) and hydrogen gas.

This reaction can be easily represented by the following word equation:

Metal + Water → Metal Hydroxide + Hydrogen Gas

Note that a more reactive metal will react more violently with cold water.

Some metals such as zinc and iron, do not react with cold water but they do react with
steam. Such metals will react with steam to form metal oxide and hydrogen gas.

This reaction can be easily represented by the following word equation:

Metal + Steam → Metal Oxide + Hydrogen Gas

Note that a more reactive metal reacts violently with steam.

Check out the table below on the observations and chemical equation for the reaction of
metals with cold water and/or steam.
Metal Reaction with Cold Water / Steam

Potassium 2K(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2KOH(aq) + H2(g) violent reaction

Sodium 2Na(s) + 2H2O(l) → 2NaOH(aq) + H2(g) violent reaction

Calcium Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) → Ca(OH)2(aq) + H2(g) reacts readily

Magnesium Mg(s) + 2H2O(l) → Mg(OH)2(aq) + H2(g) very slow reaction

Mg(s) + H2O(g) → MgO(s) + H2(g) violent reaction

Aluminium Al(s) + 2H2O(l) → No Reaction

2Al(s) + 3H2O(g) → Al2O3(s) + 3H2(g) reacts readily

Zinc Zn(s) + H2O(l) → No Reaction

Zn(s) + H2O(g) → ZnO(s) + H2(g) reacts readily

Iron Fe(s) + H2O(l) → No Reaction

3Fe(s) + 4H2O(g) → Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g) reacts slowly

Tin Sn(s) + H2O(l) → No Reaction

Sn(s) + H2O(g) → SnO(s) + H2(g) reacts readily

Lead Pb(s) + H2O(l) → No Reaction

Pb(s) + H2O(g) → No Reaction
 Copper Cu(s) + H2O(l) → No Reaction
Cu(s) + H2O(g) → No Reaction

Silver Ag(s) + H2O(l) → No Reaction

Ag(s) + H2O(g) → No Reaction

Gold Au(s) + H2O(l) → No Reaction

Au(s) + H2O(g) → No Reaction

B) Reaction of Metals with Dilute Hydrochloric Acid

Most metals react with dilute acids to form a salt solution and hydrogen gas.

This reaction can be easily represented by the following word equation:

Metal + Dilute Acid → Salt Solution + Hydrogen Gas

The reactions of the metals with the dilute acids will also indicate how reactive the
metals are and this is used to place them in the Reactivity Series.

A more reactive metal will react more violently with the dilute acid.

Check out the table below on the observations and chemical equation for the reaction of
metals with dilute acid.

Metal Reaction with HCl(aq)

Potassium 2K(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2KCl(aq) + H2(g) reacts explosively

Sodium 2Na(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + H2(g) reacts explosively

 Calcium Ca(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) + H2(g) reacts violently

Magnesium Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + H2(g) reacts rapidly

Aluminium 2Al(s) + 6HCl(aq) → 2AlCl3(aq) + 3H2(g) reacts rapidly

Zinc Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g) reacts moderately

Iron Fe(s) + 2HCl(aq) → FeCl2(aq) + H2(g) reacts slowly

Tin Sn(s) + 2HCl(aq) → SnCl2(aq) + H2(g) reacts slowly

Lead “No apparent reaction”

Copper No Reaction

Silver No Reaction

Gold No Reaction

Note that lead should react easily with dilute acids since it is higher than
hydrogen in the Reactivity Series.

However, do note that when hydrochloric acid is being used, the initial reaction between
lead and hydrochloric acid will form an insoluble layer of lead (II) chloride. This becomes
a protective layer and prevents further reaction of the hydrochloric acid with the
underlying lead metal. As such, reaction slows down and eventually stops. Hence, lead
does not appear to react with hydrochloric acid.

The chemical equation with state symbols for the reaction:

Pb(s) + 2HCl(aq) → PbCl2(s) + H2(g)

Similarly, the above applies when sulfuric acid is being used. Lead does not appear to
react with sulfuric acid because of the insoluble layer of lead (II) sulfate coated onto the
underlying lead metal.

The chemical equation with state symbols for the reaction:

Pb(s) + H2SO4(aq) → PbSO4(s) + H2(g)

Thus, based on the reactions of metals with cold water, steam and dilute hydrochloric
acid, we can place metals in order of their reactivity i.e. Reactivity Series of Metals

The Reactivity Series of Metals

Metal Symbol Mnemonic

Potassium K Please

Sodium Na Stop

Calcium Ca Calling (More

Reactive metals)

(Magnesium Mg Me
 Aluminium Al A
*

Zinc Zn Zebra

Iron Fe Instead

Tin Sn Tell

Lead Pb Laura
(Moderately
reactive metals)

(Hydrogen) H How

Copper Cu Copper

Silver Ag Strengthens

Gold Au Gold (Least

Reative and don’t
react with dilute
acids)

* Aluminium tends to oxidise readily in air to form aluminium oxide, Al 2O3(s). As such,
aluminium is not very reactive in our everyday life because it is covered (and thus
protected) by the layer of Al2O3(s). Note that the layer of Al2O3(s) has been removed
before experiments were conducted by scientists to determine the position of aluminium
in the Reactivity Series of Metals.

Prepared By: Zuhair Chemist

O’Level Chemistry
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