Who this is for: Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science (0654) students who want the reactivity series — metal order and displacement reactions — to become reliable marks instead of a half-remembered mnemonic.
What query it owns: how to understand and revise the reactivity series in Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science.
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 react. Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science (0654) expects you to know the order, predict displacement reactions, describe reactions with water and dilute acids, and link reactivity to extraction methods. This guide covers the syllabus series, reaction patterns, and the question types that appear every year.

Key takeaways

• More reactive metals lose electrons more easily and appear higher in the reactivity series.
• A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound (displacement reaction).
• Potassium, sodium, calcium react with cold water; magnesium reacts slowly; copper, silver, gold do not react with water or dilute acids.
• Metals above carbon are extracted by electrolysis; metals below carbon are extracted by reduction with carbon.
• Displacement can be seen with colour changes (e.g. brown copper coating when iron is added to copper sulfate).

What is the reactivity series in Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science?

The reactivity series is an ordered list of metals from most reactive to least reactive. It predicts whether a metal will displace another from a solution, how a metal reacts with water or dilute acid, and which extraction method is used industrially. Understanding the pattern — not just memorising the list — is what earns explain and predict marks.

You can read the full explanation, diagrams and notes on Tutopiya’s Reactivity Series subtopic page before you attempt questions.

The core ideas you must master

Idea	What it means	How the exam uses it
Displacement	More reactive metal takes the place of less reactive	”Iron is added to copper sulfate. Describe what happens.”
Reaction with water	K, Na, Ca react vigorously; Mg slowly; others no	”Compare reactions of sodium and copper with water.”
Reaction with dilute acid	Above H in series give H₂ gas	”Which metals react with dilute hydrochloric acid?”
Extraction link	Above C → electrolysis; below C → carbon reduction	”Explain how iron is extracted from its ore.”
Oxidation	Metal loses electrons → forms positive ion	”Iron is oxidised in the displacement reaction.”

The reactivity series (most to least reactive)

Metal	Reaction with cold water	Reaction with dilute acid	Extraction method
Potassium (K)	Very vigorous; H₂ + alkali	Very vigorous; H₂	Electrolysis
Sodium (Na)	Vigorous	Vigorous; H₂	Electrolysis
Calcium (Ca)	Vigorous	Vigorous; H₂	Electrolysis
Magnesium (Mg)	Very slow	Reacts; H₂	Electrolysis
Aluminium (Al)	No (oxide layer)	Reacts after oxide removed	Electrolysis
(Carbon)	— reference point —	—	—
Zinc (Zn)	No	Reacts; H₂	Carbon reduction or electrolysis
Iron (Fe)	No	Slow; H₂	Blast furnace (C reduction)
Hydrogen (H)	— reference point —	—	—
Copper (Cu)	No	No	Found uncombined / reduced
Silver (Ag)	No	No	Found uncombined
Gold (Au)	No	No	Found uncombined

Displacement reactions — step by step

The safest method works for every displacement question.

1. Find both metals in the reactivity series.
2. Compare reactivity — the more reactive metal displaces the less reactive one.
3. Write the word equation: more reactive metal + compound of less reactive metal → more reactive metal compound + less reactive metal.
4. Check observations — colour change, metal coating, fizzing (if acid involved).
5. Identify oxidation: the displacing metal is oxidised (loses electrons); the metal ion is reduced (gains electrons).

Once you have worked through a few, test yourself with the Reactivity Series quiz.

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

Command word / phrase	What the question wants	Typical reactivity series stem
Predict	Will displacement occur?	”Predict what happens when zinc is added to copper sulfate.”
Describe	Observations of reaction	”Describe what is seen when iron is added to copper sulfate.”
Explain	Link to reactivity order	”Explain why copper does not displace zinc from zinc sulfate.”
Write an equation	Balanced symbol/word equation	”Write the equation for magnesium with dilute hydrochloric acid.”
State	Order or fact	”State which is more reactive: iron or copper.”

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

1. “Iron nails are placed in copper(II) sulfate solution. Describe what happens.” The iron nail becomes coated with brown copper metal; the blue solution fades as iron displaces copper (iron is more reactive). Mark-scheme reward: brown coating + blue fades + iron more reactive/displaces copper.
2. “Explain why copper does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid.” Copper is below hydrogen in the reactivity series, so it cannot displace hydrogen from the acid. Reward: below hydrogen + cannot displace hydrogen.
3. “Magnesium reacts with dilute sulfuric acid. Write a word equation and state what you would observe.” Magnesium + sulfuric acid → magnesium sulfate + hydrogen; fizzing/bubbles of hydrogen gas. Reward: correct products + fizzing/bubbles.

How the reactivity series connects to the rest of Coordinated Science chemistry

The reactivity series links to Properties of Metals, Extraction Of Metals From Their Ores and Group Properties. The Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science resource hub links every Chemistry subtopic.

Common mistakes students make

• Predicting copper displaces iron (iron is more reactive — it displaces copper).
• Forgetting carbon and hydrogen as reference points in the series.
• Stating all metals react with cold water (only those above magnesium vigorously).
• Confusing displacement with neutralisation.
• Placing aluminium low in the series because it appears unreactive (oxide layer protects it).

When you need more support

If reactivity-series questions keep costing marks, work through the Reactivity Series quiz, then get focused help from a Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science tutor.

Frequently asked questions

What is a displacement reaction? A reaction in which a more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive metal in a compound.

Why is carbon in the reactivity series? It acts as a reference point — metals above carbon need electrolysis for extraction; metals below can be reduced by carbon.

Which metals react with cold water? Potassium, sodium and calcium react vigorously; magnesium reacts very slowly.

How do I revise the reactivity series effectively? Learn the order with a mnemonic, practise displacement predictions and equations, then take the Reactivity Series quiz.

Ready to master Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science reactivity series?

Start with the Reactivity Series subtopic page, then book a free trial with a Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Science specialist to turn reactivity knowledge into guaranteed marks.

Ready to Excel in Your Studies?

Get personalised help from Tutopiya's expert tutors. Whether it's IGCSE, IB, A-Levels, or any other curriculum — we match you with the perfect tutor and your first session is free.

Book Your Free Trial