The reactivity series of metals, also known as the activity series, refers to the arrangement of metals in the descending order of their reactivities. Magnesium + Carbon dioxide —> Magnesium oxide + … Once organized, an activity series helps us to predict if a reaction will occur when a piece of elemental metal is placed in water, an acid solution, or a solution containing the ion of another metal. The reactivity series lists metals from the most reactive to the least reactive. Metal + Carbon dioxide —> Metal oxide + Carbon. The elements in the periodic table known as the transition metals are much less reactive, and metals such as gold and platinum endorse the bottom of the list, exhibiting less in the way of chemical reaction with any ordinary reagents. Required fields are marked *, Long Tabular Form of the Reactivity Series. A reactivity series is typically a vertically presented model with the most-reactive element placed at the top of the series and … The most reactive elementary group is alkali metals (situated far apart from intermediate metals and noble gases). Note that the metals in Red react with cold water, those in Orange cannot react with cold water but can react with acids, and those in Blue only react with some strong oxidizing acids. The majority of transition metals react with acids, but generally not with steam. When metal reactivity is to be directly compared, a single displacement reaction serves the purpose. The reactivity of the metals depends on the fact that how easily they lose one electron or more than one electron. A metal will displace any metal lower in the series. The reactivity of metals can be compared to each other, depending on whether a metal is reacted in an aqueous solution of another metal ion. Since magnesium is more reactive than carbon dioxide, the magnesium reduces carbon dioxide to carbon and become magnesium oxide itself. This group can be identified with the activity or reactivity series, which determines the most reactive metals from highest to lowest. Therefore, the reactivity series of metals can be used to predict the reactions between metals and water. Metal + oxygen → metal oxide (a) Metal undergoes oxidation to form positive ions. Reactivity Series is also known as Activity Series Most reactive metals are at top while Least reactive metals at the bottom For any two metals in the series, the metal placed higher in the series can displace lower metals from their salts For example, titanium is extracted from titanium tetrachloride via a single displacement reaction with magnesium. Meaning of Reactivity series. The reactivity series of metals, also known as the activity series, refers to the arrangement of metals in the descending order of their reactivities. The reactivity series follows the order, from most reactive to least reactive: Thus, cesium is the most reactive metal on the periodic table. The order is: The most significant difference between the electrochemical series and the reactivity series is that the positions of sodium and lithium are switched. Reactive metal is a group of metal elements that can form a reaction with acids, water, mineral acids and powerful oxidizing acids. If the reaction occurs when a metal is put into an aqueous solution of another metal ion, the reactivity of the inserted metal is more higher than the metal in solution. Note: When metals react with nitric acid they do not release hydrogen gas (except magnesium and manganese) because nitric acid acts as a strong oxidizing agent. Beryllium and aluminum react with steam and acids. Magnesium reacts slowly with cold water, but quickly with boiling water or acids. It can be used to predict which metals will displace other metals in aqueous solutions in double displacement reactions and to extract metals from mixtures and ores. The ions of low ranking metals are readily reduced by high ranking metals on the reactivity series. Reactivity Series vs. Standard Electrode Potentials, Activity Series of Metals: Predicting Reactivity, Most Reactive Metal on the Periodic Table, Single-Displacement Reaction Definition and Examples, The Properties and Applications of Platinum, Chemistry Vocabulary Terms You Should Know, Chemical Element Pictures - Photo Gallery, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. 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