Properties of metalsThe properties of metals and alloys
We use metals in our everyday lives, for example in jewellery or in cars. Different metals react differently with oxygen, water and dilute acid, allowing a reactivity series to be deduced.
Different metals can react with acid, water and oxygen. How reactive a metal is determines which reactions the metal participates in. Only the most reactive metals will react with water, but more will react with acid and even more with oxygen. Metals can be ordered into a reactivity series, where they are ranked from most reactive to least reactive.