AQA · GCSE · Chemistry
Course version: 8462 · Version from Sept 2018
The metals potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and…
Full specification wording
The reactivity series: The metals potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and copper can be put in order of their reactivity from their reactions with water and dilute acids.
Reactivity is judged by how vigorously a metal reacts with water or dilute acid.
Checked against the AQA 8462 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 4 of 7
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Reactivity is judged by how vigorously a metal reacts with water or dilute acid. Potassium, sodium and lithium react with cold water, giving metal hydroxide and hydrogen; potassium is most vigorous, sodium fizzes and may melt, lithium fizzes steadily. Calcium reacts steadily with water, producing a slightly soluble hydroxide. Magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water but rapidly with dilute acid; zinc and iron react only with acid, iron more slowly; copper reacts with neither water nor dilute acid. The observed order is K > Na > Li > Ca > Mg > Zn > Fe > Cu. Reactivity reflects the tendency to form a positive ion, so the most reactive metals lose electrons most readily.
What earns the marks
- Potassium, sodium and lithium react with cold water to form the metal hydroxide and hydrogen, with potassium the most vigorous and lithium the least vigorous of the three.
- Calcium reacts steadily with water, forming calcium hydroxide, which is only slightly soluble and may appear as a white suspension, plus hydrogen.
- Magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water but rapidly with dilute acid, forming a salt and hydrogen.
- Zinc and iron do not react with cold water but react with dilute acid; zinc reacts faster than iron.
- Copper does not react with cold water or dilute acid under these conditions, so it is placed below iron.
- The order of reactivity is potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming all metals react with cold water.
Put it right by stating that zinc, iron and copper do not react with cold water under these conditions.
Placing calcium below magnesium because magnesium burns brightly in air.
Put it right by comparing reactions with water and dilute acid, where calcium reacts steadily with cold water but magnesium reacts very slowly.
Writing that copper reacts slowly with dilute acid.
Put it right by stating that copper does not react with dilute acid under these conditions.
Exam tips
- When describing a reaction, name the metal, the reactant and the products, and include the observed sign such as fizzing, flame or gas bubbles.
- Use the phrase 'under these conditions' when stating that a metal does not react, because reaction depends on the water or acid used.
- To place metals in order, compare the vigour of their reactions rather than their physical appearance or density.
Try the lesson
The start of the The reactivity series: The metals potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and copper can be put in order of their reactivity from their reactions with water and dilute acids. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which metal from the reactivity series reacts most vigorously with cold water?
Listen
Reactivity is judged by how vigorously a metal reacts with water or dilute acid. Potassium, sodium and lithium react with cold water, giving metal hydroxide and hydrogen; potassium is most vigorous, sodium fizzes and may melt, lithium fizzes steadily. Calcium reacts steadily with water, producing a slightly soluble hydroxide. Magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water but rapidly with dilute acid; zinc and iron react only with acid, iron more slowly; copper reacts with neither water nor dilute acid. The observed order is K > Na > Li > Ca > Mg > Zn > Fe > Cu. Reactivity reflects the tendency to form a positive ion, so the most reactive metals lose electrons most readily. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Potassium, sodium and lithium react with cold water to form the metal hydroxide and hydrogen, with potassium the most vigorous and lithium the least vigorous of the three. Calcium reacts steadily with water, forming calcium hydroxide, which is only slightly soluble and may appear as a white suspension, plus hydrogen. Magnesium reacts very slowly with cold water but rapidly with dilute acid, forming a salt and hydrogen. Zinc and iron do not react with cold water but react with dilute acid; zinc reacts faster than iron. A common slip: Assuming all metals react with cold water. Instead, stating that zinc, iron and copper do not react with cold water under these conditions. Exam tip: When describing a reaction, name the metal, the reactant and the products, and include the observed sign such as fizzing, flame or gas bubbles.
See it
Put it in order
Put these steps in the order they happen.
- 1. Magnesium
- 2. Copper
- 3. Zinc
- 4. Potassium
- 5. Sodium
- 6. Iron
- 7. Lithium
- 8. Calcium
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Reactivity series
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Metal and water reactions
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Metal and acid reactions
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Ordering by experimental observation
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See every definition
- Reactivity series
- An order of metals from their reactions with water and dilute acids, running potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and copper.
- Metal and water reactions
- Potassium, sodium and lithium react with cold water to form the metal hydroxide and hydrogen, while calcium reacts steadily and magnesium very slowly.
- Metal and acid reactions
- Magnesium reacts rapidly with dilute acid, zinc and iron react with dilute acid with zinc faster, and copper reacts with neither water nor dilute acid.
- Ordering by experimental observation
- Metals are placed in order by comparing the vigour of their reactions rather than their physical appearance or density.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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