The document discusses the reactivity series, which ranks metals based on their reactivity level from most reactive to least reactive. The most reactive metals, such as potassium and sodium, readily lose electrons during chemical reactions. Less reactive metals like copper and silver are slower to lose electrons. The least reactive metal, gold, does not readily react with substances like oxygen, water, or acids. The reactivity series can be used to determine the nature of metals and predict displacement and acid-base reactions.

1. Reactivity Series and its Applications
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 low er
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

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Magnesium
Magnesium readily loses its outer shell electrons when it reacts w ith other
substances; this is why magnesium is considered a highly reactive metal
and comes on the top part of the reactivity series.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

13. last on the list of reactivity series because of being least reactive.
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,

14. whereas silver and gold are among the least reactive metals.
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.
1. It can help us determine the nature of metals. The metals appearing
on top of the reactivity series are not commonl y found in nature in
their pure form because of being highly reactive.
2. The knowledge can be used in displacement reactions. The more
reactive metals can be used to displace other less reactive metals.
3. 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

15. 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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