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Metals and reactivity series - (CCEA)The reactivity series of metals

The reactivity series ranks metals by how readily they react. More reactive metals displace less reactive metals from their compounds and react with water.

Part of Combined ScienceFurther chemical reactions, rates and equilibrium, calculations and organic chemistry

The reactivity series of metals

The reactivity series of metals is a chart listing metals in order of decreasing reactivity. In general, the more reactive a metal is:

  • the more vigorously it reacts with other substances
  • the more easily it loses electrons to form positive ions

We can examine the reactivity of metals by observing their reactions with oxygen, water, steam and whether it displaces other metals in

This table summarises the reactions of some metals in the reactivity series. Hydrogen is included for comparison.

MetalReaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature)Reaction with waterReaction with steamReactivity
Potassium (K)Reacts vigorous when heated. Lilac flame and white solid formed. Tarnishes when freshly cut at room temperature Reacts vigorously. Floats on the surface. Moves and fizzes. Burns with a lilac flame. Heat is released. Crackle as it disappears. Colourless solution remains.Reaction too dangerous to be attempted.Most reactive
Sodium (Na)Reacts vigorously when heated. Yellow/orange flame and white solid formed. Tarnishes when freshly cut at room temperature Reacts vigorously. Floats on the surface. Moves and fizzes. Melts to form a silvery ball. Heat is released. Crackle as it disappears. Colourless solution remains.Reaction too dangerous to be attempted.猬
Calcium (Ca)Reacts vigorously with strong heating. Brick red flame and white solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature Reacts readily. Fizzes. Grey solid rises then sinks. Heat is released. Grey solid disappears. Solution appears milky.Reaction too dangerous to be attempted.猬
Magnesium (Mg)Reacts readily with strong heating. White light and white solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature Very slow reaction. A few bubbles of gas produced.Reacts on strong heating. White light and white solid formed.猬
Aluminium (Al)Reacts readily with strong heating as a powder. White solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature No reactionReacts as a powder on strong heating. White solid formed.猬
Zinc (Zn)Reacts steadily when heated forming a yellow solid which changes to white on cooling. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature No reactionReacts as a powder on strong heating. Yellow solid forms which changes to white on cooling.猬
Iron (Fe)Reacts readily when heated as iron filings. Orange sparks and black solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature No reactionReacts as a powder on very strong heating. Black solid formed.猬
Copper(Cu)Reacts on heating to form a black solid. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperatureNo reactionNo reactionLeast reactive
MetalPotassium (K)
Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature)Reacts vigorous when heated. Lilac flame and white solid formed. Tarnishes when freshly cut at room temperature
Reaction with waterReacts vigorously. Floats on the surface. Moves and fizzes. Burns with a lilac flame. Heat is released. Crackle as it disappears. Colourless solution remains.
Reaction with steamReaction too dangerous to be attempted.
ReactivityMost reactive
MetalSodium (Na)
Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature)Reacts vigorously when heated. Yellow/orange flame and white solid formed. Tarnishes when freshly cut at room temperature
Reaction with waterReacts vigorously. Floats on the surface. Moves and fizzes. Melts to form a silvery ball. Heat is released. Crackle as it disappears. Colourless solution remains.
Reaction with steamReaction too dangerous to be attempted.
Reactivity猬
MetalCalcium (Ca)
Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature)Reacts vigorously with strong heating. Brick red flame and white solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature
Reaction with waterReacts readily. Fizzes. Grey solid rises then sinks. Heat is released. Grey solid disappears. Solution appears milky.
Reaction with steamReaction too dangerous to be attempted.
Reactivity猬
MetalMagnesium (Mg)
Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature)Reacts readily with strong heating. White light and white solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature
Reaction with waterVery slow reaction. A few bubbles of gas produced.
Reaction with steamReacts on strong heating. White light and white solid formed.
Reactivity猬
MetalAluminium (Al)
Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature)Reacts readily with strong heating as a powder. White solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature
Reaction with waterNo reaction
Reaction with steamReacts as a powder on strong heating. White solid formed.
Reactivity猬
MetalZinc (Zn)
Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature)Reacts steadily when heated forming a yellow solid which changes to white on cooling. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature
Reaction with waterNo reaction
Reaction with steamReacts as a powder on strong heating. Yellow solid forms which changes to white on cooling.
Reactivity猬
MetalIron (Fe)
Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature)Reacts readily when heated as iron filings. Orange sparks and black solid formed. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature
Reaction with waterNo reaction
Reaction with steamReacts as a powder on very strong heating. Black solid formed.
Reactivity猬
MetalCopper(Cu)
Reaction with oxygen (when heated and at room temperature)Reacts on heating to form a black solid. Slowly forms a surface oxide at room temperature
Reaction with waterNo reaction
Reaction with steamNo reaction
ReactivityLeast reactive

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Reactions of metals with oxygen in air

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