Who this is for: Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) students who want the reactivity series — metal order, displacement reactions and extraction logic — to become a tool they can apply instead of a list memorised without meaning.
What query it owns: how to understand and revise the reactivity series in Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry.
Why this is safe: this page owns the reactivity series revision-guide angle, while Tutopiya’s Reactivity Series subtopic page owns the learning resource and the free Reactivity Series quiz owns the practice.

The reactivity series ranks metals by how readily they lose electrons and form positive ions. Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) uses it to predict displacement reactions, choose extraction methods, and explain reactions with water, steam and dilute acids. This guide gives the core order, the rules that never change, and the exam stems that test application.

Key takeaways

• More reactive metals displace less reactive metals from their compounds (e.g. zinc displaces copper from CuSO₄).
• Common order (most to least reactive): K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Pb, H, Cu, Ag, Au.
• Metals above hydrogen react with dilute acids to give salt + hydrogen.
• Metals above carbon cannot be extracted by carbon reduction — need electrolysis.
• Potassium, sodium and calcium react vigorously with cold water; magnesium reacts slowly.

What is the reactivity series in Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry?

The reactivity series is an ordered list of metals showing decreasing tendency to lose electrons and form ions. In Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry, it explains displacement in solution, competition with carbon in extraction, and whether a metal reacts with water or acid. Hydrogen and carbon are included as reference points for acid reactions and extraction.

Read the full notes on Tutopiya’s Reactivity Series subtopic page before attempting questions.

The core order and rules you must master

Position	Metals / reference	Key behaviour
Top	K, Na, Ca	React with cold water; stored under oil
Middle	Mg, Al, Zn, Fe	Mg with cold water slowly; Zn/Fe with steam; acids if above H
Reference	H (hydrogen)	Metals above H displace hydrogen from dilute acids
Reference	C (carbon)	Metals below C can be reduced by carbon in extraction
Bottom	Cu, Ag, Au	Unreactive; below hydrogen — no reaction with dilute acids

How to use the reactivity series — step by step

1. Locate both metals in the series.
2. For displacement: the more reactive metal displaces the less reactive one from a compound.
3. For acid reactions: only metals above hydrogen produce hydrogen gas with dilute acids.
4. For extraction: metals above carbon need electrolysis; below carbon can use carbon reduction.
5. Write the balanced equation and describe observations (colour change, effervescence).

Test yourself with the free Reactivity Series quiz.

Displacement vs acid reaction: which rule applies?

Situation	Rule to apply	Typical signal words
Metal in salt solution	More reactive displaces less reactive	”zinc in copper(II) sulfate”
Dilute acid + metal	Only if metal is above hydrogen	”magnesium with dilute hydrochloric acid”
Metal + water/steam	K/Na/Ca with cold water; Mg with steam	”iron with steam”
Extraction method	Compare with carbon in series	”why aluminium needs electrolysis”

Reactivity series in past-paper wording: command words that matter

Command word / phrase	What the question wants	Typical reactivity stem
Predict	Outcome of displacement	”Predict what happens when iron is added to copper(II) sulfate.”
Explain	Why no reaction occurs	”Explain why copper does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid.”
Order	Rank metals by reactivity	”Place these metals in order of reactivity.”
Write an equation	Displacement or acid reaction	”Write an equation for zinc reacting with dilute sulfuric acid.”

Worked exam-style stems (how to answer the wording)

1. “Iron is added to copper(II) sulfate solution. Describe what is observed.” No reaction — iron is less reactive than copper, so it cannot displace copper. Reward: no reaction + correct reactivity comparison. (Note: if the question used zinc instead, brown copper would deposit.)
2. “Zinc is added to copper(II) sulfate solution. Describe what is observed.” Brown coating of copper on zinc; blue solution fades — zinc displaces copper. Reward: observation + displacement.
3. “Magnesium is reacted with dilute hydrochloric acid. Write an equation and state what gas is produced.” Mg + 2HCl → MgCl₂ + H₂; hydrogen gas produced (effervescence). Reward: balanced equation + H₂ named.

When you can recognise the wording instantly, work through the Reactivity Series quiz and Extraction Of Metals.

How the reactivity series connects to the rest of the course

The series links to Extraction Of Metals, Group I trends and Redox. The Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry resource hub links all units.

Common mistakes students make

• Thinking iron displaces copper — iron is below copper in the reactivity series.
• Including copper reacting with dilute acids — copper is below hydrogen.
• Reversing the series order — potassium is most reactive, gold least (among common metals).
• Forgetting aluminium has an oxide coating that affects apparent reactivity.
• Confusing displacement with double decomposition — reactivity order decides displacement.

When you need more support

If displacement prediction keeps failing, work through the Reactivity Series quiz, then get focused help from a Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry tutor.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to memorise the full reactivity series? Know the key metals from K to Cu and the positions of hydrogen and carbon — enough to predict displacement and extraction.

Why does zinc displace copper but iron does not? Zinc is above copper in the series; iron is below copper — only the more reactive metal displaces the less reactive one.

Where does hydrogen fit in the series? As a reference point — metals above H react with dilute acids to release hydrogen gas.

How do I revise the reactivity series effectively? Learn the order with one reaction example per section, then take the Reactivity Series quiz before mixing displacement and acid questions.

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