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GCSE Chemistry · key term
A list of metals arranged from the most reactive at the top to the least reactive at the bottom.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.4.1.2 · Paper 1
A list of elements arranged in order of reactivity, usually from most reactive to least reactive.
Revise: The Reactivity SeriesThe reactivity series places elements in order from most reactive to least reactive.
Specification 4.1, 4.3, 4.7, 4.9 · Paper 1
An order of metals from most reactive to least reactive, built from evidence of their reactions.
Revise: Relative Reactivity of MetalsMetals above hydrogen in the reactivity series react with dilute acids; copper is below hydrogen. Very reactive metals such as potassium and sodium react dangerously with acids, so they are not suitable for a simple classroom comparison.
A list of metals arranged from most reactive to least reactive, with carbon and hydrogen included as reference points.
An ordered list showing the relative reactivity of metals; carbon and hydrogen are included as useful reference points.
An arrangement of metals in order of their tendency to react and to form positive ions, with the most reactive at the top.
Specification C4.1f, C6.1a · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
An arrangement of metals from most reactive to least reactive.
Revise: Reactivity SeriesA reactivity series puts metals in order of how readily they react. Rather than guessing the order, you can deduce it from experimental results. The key comparison is a displacement reaction: when a metal is put into a solution containing ions of a different metal, the more reactive metal can replace the less reactive one in its compound.
An ordering of metals and carbon by how readily they react; a more reactive element can remove oxygen from the oxide of a less reactive metal.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
Revise: Order of reactivityA reactivity series places them in order, with the most reactive metal at the top and the least reactive at the bottom. Chemists can work out this order from experimental evidence rather than simply memorising it.
An arrangement of metals in order of their tendency to react, with the most reactive at the top.
An ordering of substances according to their chemical reactivity.
A list of elements arranged according to how readily they react or form positive ions.
Do not describe carbon as a metal. It is included in the reactivity series as a reference point for choosing an extraction method.
When comparing two metals, state both parts of the relationship: the metal higher in the reactivity series is oxidised more readily, while the metal lower down is more resistant to oxidation.
Carbon and hydrogen may appear in the reactivity series for comparison, but they are not metals.
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