Metals are known to react with other substances, and during their reaction, they lose an electron and form up a positive ion. The more readily a metal reacts to create positive ions, the more reactive it is considered to be.
Based on the reactivity level of the metals, they are listed from top to bottom, with the top ones having the most reactivity rate, and the lower ones with a lesser reactivity rate.
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Read below how the metals are rated on the reactivity series based on their rate of reaction activity with other substances.
The order of reactivity series
The reactivity series, also known as the activity series, ranks the metals based on their level of reactivity from top to bottom. The list comes down with the decreasing rate of reactivity. The tables progress as the rate of reactivity comes down.
The loss of electrons determines the rate of reactivity of a metal. Based on the
electron configuration, we determine the reactivity level of a particular metal.
The metals are mainly distinguished on the basis of the ease with which they exhibit their chemical reactions. If a metal has relatively more ease when undergoing a chemical reaction, it is considered more reactive in comparison to the metal that does not show much ease during a chemical reaction.
Ease in the chemical reaction
The ease of chemical reaction can be determined by the loss of electrons. When a metal is undergoing a certain chemical reaction with some other substance, it tends to lose electrons from its outer shell.
When the electron is lost, this results in the formation of positive ions. If a particular metal is converting the loss of electron into a positive ion with ease rather than a slow chemical process, then that metal is considered a readily reactive metal.
This makes the metal come on top and above the one that shows relatively less ease during its chemical reaction.
Reactivity level of different metals
Here we have discussed how different
metals are more reactive than others which determines their placement on the reactivity series.
Potassium
Potassium is considered a highly reactive metal. Potassium reacts quite violently when exposed to other substances, including water or oxygen. This is why pure potassium is rather difficult to find. Instead, other substances containing potassium can be found.
This high reactivity level of potassium makes it stand on top of the reactivity series.
Sodium
Sodium ranks after potassium on the reactivity series list. Sodium is a highly reactive metal which is why it is not easily found in its pure form. Sodium loses its outer shell electron very readily. This makes it a highly reactive metal.
Calcium
In its isolated form, calcium is considered one of the most reactive metals. When exposed to air, calcium tends to be very reactive. It immediately forms a grayish layer of nitride and oxide. This happens because of the loss of electrons during the chemical reaction, placing calcium on the top area of the reactivity series.
Magnesium
Magnesium readily loses its outer shell electrons when it reacts with other substances; this is why magnesium is considered a highly reactive metal and comes on the top part of the reactivity series.
Zinc
The
valence shell of zinc contains two electrons, and zinc readily gives up those electrons during a chemical reaction with other substances. This makes zinc relatively more reactive than other metals such as copper and hydrogen, which lose their electrons quite slowly than zinc.
This reactivity level of zinc makes it a part of the top one on the reactivity series.
Iron
Iron is considered an ordinarily reactive metal. In some situations, iron is highly reactive. For instance, when iron reacts with acids. Whereas in general, iron is relatively less reactive in comparison to sodium and potassium. In this way, iron comes on a rather middle area on the reactivity series.
Hydrogen
Although hydrogen has a single electron in its valence shell, it readily loses its electron during a chemical reaction with other substances. In this way, hydrogen is considered relatively more reactive in some conditions and somewhat less in others. For instance, when hydrogen is left to react with oxygen, it readily loses its valence shell electron.
Copper
Copper does not lose electrons readily upon reaction with other compounds; hence it is not considered a highly reactive metal. Based on this relatively less reactive nature, copper is placed below some metals, including iron and hydrogen, on the list reactivity series.
Silver
Silver is quite a less reactive metal because it tends to not lose its electron when exposed to air or water. This is why the reactivity level of silver is quite low. On the list of reactivity series, silver comes on quite a lower level because it is taken in the group of least reactive elements.
Gold
Gold is considered the least reactive metal of all. It does not react readily in any given condition, whether with oxygen, water, or acid. Gold comes on last on the list of reactivity series because of being least reactive.gold reactivity
Metals according to reactivity series
The metals here are listed based on their reactivity level on the list of reactivity series. With potassium and sodium among the top reactive ones, whereas silver and gold are among the least reactive metals.reactivity series
Application of reactivity series
The knowledge of reactivity series and the rate at which a certain metal reacts with other substances can be used in different applications.
- It can help us determine the nature of metals. The metals appearing on top of the reactivity series are not commonly found in nature in their pure form because of being highly reactive.
- The knowledge can be used in displacement reactions. The more reactive metals can be used to displace other less reactive metals.
- It can help to determine how strongly or weakly a metal would react with acid, water, and oxygen. In this way, different reactions can be regulated.
Conclusion
The reactivity series is a ranking system used to enlist the metals based on the level of their reactivity. The more reactive metals are placed on the top of the list, and the list progresses with the least reactive metal on the bottom of the list.
Many chemical reactions can be moderated using the knowledge of metal reactivity from the reactivity series.
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