What is the Reactivity Series in Chemistry?

The Reactivity Series is a list of metals arranged in order of their reactivity from highest to lowest. It helps predict how metals will react with acids, water, and other substances. This concept is crucial in the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry curriculum as it aids in understanding metal extraction and displacement reactions.

Why is the Reactivity Series important in the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry syllabus?

The Reactivity Series is important because it provides a systematic way to predict the outcomes of chemical reactions involving metals. For instance, it helps determine which metals can displace others in a compound, which is essential for understanding displacement reactions, metal extraction processes, and corrosion prevention.

How can the Reactivity Series be used to predict the outcome of a displacement reaction?

In a displacement reaction, a more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its compound. By referring to the Reactivity Series, students can predict whether a reaction will occur. For example, if zinc is added to copper sulfate solution, zinc will displace copper because it is higher in the Reactivity Series.

What are some common trends observed in the Reactivity Series?

Common trends in the Reactivity Series include that metals higher up are more reactive and can displace those below them from compounds. They also tend to react more vigorously with water and acids. For example, potassium and sodium react explosively with water, while metals like gold and platinum, which are lower in the series, do not react with water or dilute acids.

How does the Reactivity Series relate to metal extraction methods?

The Reactivity Series helps determine the method used for metal extraction. Metals high in the series, like aluminum, are extracted using electrolysis due to their high reactivity. In contrast, metals lower in the series, such as iron, can be extracted by reduction with carbon. Understanding this is crucial for Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry students studying industrial processes.

Why is "Saying Cu displaces Fe from FeSO₄" a common mistake in Reactivity Series?

Why it happens: Inverting the rule. How to avoid it: MORE reactive displaces LESS reactive. Cu is less reactive than Fe → no reaction. Source: 0620/42 — recurring

Why is "Saying copper reacts with dilute HCl" a common mistake in Reactivity Series?

Why it happens: Forgetting the H boundary. How to avoid it: Only metals ABOVE H in the series react with dilute acid.

Why is "Forgetting that hydrogen is in the reactivity series" a common mistake in Reactivity Series?

Why it happens: H is a non-metal. How to avoid it: H is included as a REFERENCE for predicting acid reactions.

MetalsCambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620)

Reactivity Series

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Reactivity Series — Cambridge IGCSE 0620 Chemistry Extended (2026)

Metals ranked by how easily they lose electrons. Used to predict reactions with water, acids, oxygen, and metal salts (displacement).

What you’ll learn

Mapped to the Cambridge IGCSE 0620 syllabus (2026-2028).

11.3 — State the reactivity series of metals.
11.3 — Predict reactions of metals with water, oxygen, acids, and metal salts.
11.3 — Describe displacement reactions and the thermite reaction.

The reactivity series

Most reactive (K) at the top to least (Au) at the bottom.

The series (with C and H as references).

K — potassium (most reactive) Na — sodium Ca — calcium Mg — magnesium Al — aluminium C — carbon Zn — zinc Fe — iron Sn — tin Pb — lead H — hydrogen Cu — copper Ag — silver Au — gold (least reactive)

Predictions from position.

Property	Above C	Above H	Above Cu
Extracted by carbon?	NO (need electrolysis)	(some)	YES
Reacts with dilute acid?	YES (vigorously)	YES	NO
Reacts with water?	YES (varies)	(Mg slow)	NO

Reactivity = ease of losing electrons. Top of series = electrons most easily lost = forms cation most readily.

Worked qualitative. Calcium is more reactive than zinc. What does that predict?

Ca reacts with COLD water; Zn doesn't.
Ca reacts more vigorously with acid than Zn.
Ca will displace Zn from zinc sulfate solution.

Order: K → Au.
Use C and H as reference points.
Above C: extracted by electrolysis.
Above H: reacts with acids.

Reactions with water and acid

Cold water for K-Ca; steam for Mg-Fe; acid for everything above H.

Cold water.

K, Na, Ca, Li react with cold water → metal hydroxide + H₂.
$2\text{Na} + 2\text{H}_{2}\text{O} \to 2\text{NaOH} + \text{H}_{2}$ (vigorous).

Steam (no cold-water reaction).

Mg, Zn, Fe react with steam (hot water vapour) → metal oxide + H₂.
$\text{Mg} + \text{H}_{2}\text{O}(g) \to \text{MgO} + \text{H}_{2}$ .

Acid.

Any metal ABOVE hydrogen reacts with dilute acid → salt + H₂.
$\text{Mg} + 2\text{HCl} \to \text{MgCl}_{2} + \text{H}_{2}$ .
Vigour follows the series: K > Na > Mg > Zn > Fe > (Cu nothing).

Cu, Ag, Au DON'T react with dilute acid.

Worked qualitative. A student adds magnesium ribbon, iron filings, and copper turnings each to dilute HCl. Vigour ordering: Mg > Fe > Cu (Cu shows no reaction). This matches the reactivity series.

K, Na, Ca: cold water → MOH + H₂.
Mg, Zn, Fe: steam → MO + H₂.
All above H: + dilute acid → salt + H₂.
Cu and below: don't react with dilute acid.

Displacement reactions

More reactive metal displaces less reactive metal from its salt solution OR oxide.

Displacement from salt solution. $\text{Zn} + \text{CuSO}_{4} \to \text{ZnSO}_{4} + \text{Cu}.$

Zinc more reactive than copper → Zn displaces Cu.
Solution turns from blue (Cu²⁺) to colourless (Zn²⁺); copper deposits as red-brown solid.

No displacement when reactivity is reversed.

Cu + ZnSO₄ → no reaction (Cu less reactive than Zn).

Worked. $\text{Fe} + \text{CuSO}_{4} \to \text{FeSO}_{4} + \text{Cu}$ . Iron displaces copper (Fe more reactive). Used in industry to recover copper from waste pickle liquor.

Thermite reaction. Aluminium reduces iron(III) oxide: $2\text{Al} + \text{Fe}_{2}\text{O}_{3} \to 2\text{Fe} + \text{Al}_{2}\text{O}_{3}.$

Highly exothermic; produces molten iron. Used to weld railway tracks in remote locations — no power source needed.

Test for ion identification. Add a more reactive metal to a solution; observe whether displacement happens. E.g. testing for Cu²⁺ — drop in Zn or Fe; if a brown solid appears, Cu²⁺ confirmed.

More reactive displaces less reactive.
From salt solution: Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu.
From oxide: thermite, $2\text{Al} + \text{Fe}_{2}\text{O}_{3} \to 2\text{Fe} + \text{Al}_{2}\text{O}_{3}$ .
Used industrially and as identification tests.

How it’s examined

Reactivity series is foundational and appears every Paper 4 (8-12 marks): predict reactions, write equations for displacement, explain extraction methods. Examiner reports flag students inverting the order (forgetting that K is the MOST reactive, not least).

Sources: Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 syllabus 2026-2028 (11.3); 0620/42 Oct/Nov 2024 — Q19 (reactivity, displacement); 0620 Examiner Reports 2022-2024. Last reviewed 2026-05-07.

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Step-by-step worked examples — Reactivity Series

Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on reactivity series, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.

1Order of the reactivity series (key metals)
Core• order
Question
List metals K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu in order of decreasing reactivity.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Mnemonic: 'Please Stop Calling Me A Careless Zebra Instead Try Learning How Copper Saves Gold' — order: K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > C > Zn > Fe > Pb > H > Cu > Ag > Au.
Answer
K > Ca > Mg > Zn > Fe > Cu
2Displacement reaction
Extended• Adapted from 0620/42 May/Jun 2024 Q15• displacement
Question
Will iron displace copper from copper(II) sulfate solution? Write the equation.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Iron is ABOVE copper → yes, displaces.
2. Step 2
  Equation:
  $\text{Fe} + \text{CuSO}_{4} \to \text{FeSO}_{4} + \text{Cu}$
Answer
Yes. $\text{Fe} + \text{CuSO}_{4} \to \text{FeSO}_{4} + \text{Cu}$ . Solution turns from blue to green.
3Reactivity with dilute acid
Extended• acid
Question
Predict whether magnesium and copper react with dilute hydrochloric acid.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Mg is ABOVE H → reacts to give H₂.
  $\text{Mg} + 2\text{HCl} \to \text{MgCl}_{2} + \text{H}_{2}$
2. Step 2
  Cu is BELOW H → does NOT react with dilute HCl.
Answer
Mg reacts; Cu does not.

Key Formulae — Reactivity Series

The formulae you need to memorise for reactivity series on the Cambridge IGCSE 0620 paper, with every variable defined in plain English and a note on when to use it.

Displacement rule
$\text{Metal A displaces metal B if A is HIGHER in the series}$
When to use
Predicting if a displacement reaction occurs.
Reactivity with dilute acid
$\text{Reacts with dilute acid only if ABOVE hydrogen in the series}$
When to use
Predicting metal + dilute acid reactions.

Key Definitions and Keywords — Reactivity Series

Definitions to memorise and the exact keywords mark schemes credit for reactivity series answers — sharpened from recent examiner reports for the 2026 0620 sitting.

Reactivity series
Examiner keyword
Ordered list of metals from most to least reactive based on tendency to lose electrons.
Displacement reaction
Examiner keyword
More reactive metal displaces a less reactive one from a compound or solution.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Reactivity Series

The traps other students keep falling into on reactivity series questions — taken from recent Cambridge IGCSE 0620 examiner reports and mark schemes — and how to avoid them.

✕Saying Cu displaces Fe from FeSO₄
0620/42 — recurring
Why it happens
Inverting the rule.
How to avoid it
MORE reactive displaces LESS reactive. Cu is less reactive than Fe → no reaction.
✕Saying copper reacts with dilute HCl
Why it happens
Forgetting the H boundary.
How to avoid it
Only metals ABOVE H in the series react with dilute acid.
✕Forgetting that hydrogen is in the reactivity series
Why it happens
H is a non-metal.
How to avoid it
H is included as a REFERENCE for predicting acid reactions.

Practice questions

Exam-style questions with step-by-step worked solutions. Try one before checking the method.

Past paper style quiz

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Reactivity Series — frequently asked questions

The things students keep getting wrong in this sub-topic, answered.

Reactivity Series

Short Study Notes in the form of Slides

Detailed Study Notes

What you’ll learn

How it’s examined

1Order of the reactivity series (key metals)

2Displacement reaction

3Reactivity with dilute acid

Displacement rule

Reactivity with dilute acid

Reactivity series

Displacement reaction

✕Saying Cu displaces Fe from FeSO₄

✕Saying copper reacts with dilute HCl

✕Forgetting that hydrogen is in the reactivity series

Practice questions

Past paper style quiz

Assess your understanding

Video lesson

Reactivity Series — frequently asked questions