# Chemical activity series of metals

> Some metals react eagerly, some hardly at all


## Objectives

- Describe the chemical activity series as metals arranged by how readily they react.
- Use the series: metals above hydrogen displace it from dilute acids; metals below it do not.
- Compare two metals' activity from their places in the series.

## 1. General properties: mass, radius and metallic property




## 2. Fizz or nothing?

Predict: what is the difference between the two metals?

- The acid is too weak for any metal
- Magnesium is more chemically active than copper ✓
- Copper is harder, so the acid cannot get in

Magnesium is more chemically active than copper. Magnesium is above hydrogen in the activity series and displaces it from dilute hydrochloric acid; copper is below hydrogen, so no reaction happens.

[ar-EG] الـ magnesium أكتر active كيميائيًا من الـ copper. الـ magnesium فوق الـ hydrogen في الـ activity series وبيعمل displace ليه من الـ dilute hydrochloric acid، إنما الـ copper تحت الـ hydrogen فمفيش تفاعل.
## 3. The activity series

Chemical activity series The arrangement of metals in descending order according to their chemical activity. Part of the chemical activity series Active means the metal reacts readily. It does not mean strong or hard.


## 4. Above hydrogen

Metals **above hydrogen** displace hydrogen from dilute acids. Metals **below hydrogen** do not. Magnesium is above hydrogen: hydrogen gas bubbles out Copper is below hydrogen The most active metals, like sodium and potassium, even displace hydrogen from cold water.


## 5. Use the series

Metal X fizzes in dilute acid. Metal Y does not. Which statement fits?

- Both are below hydrogen
- Y is more active than X
- X is above hydrogen in the series; Y is below it ✓

X fizzes, so it displaces hydrogen from the dilute acid: X is above hydrogen in the series. Y does not react, so it is below hydrogen.

[ar-EG] الـ X بيفوّر، يعني بيعمل displace للـ hydrogen من الـ dilute acid: يبقى فوق الـ hydrogen في الـ series. والـ Y مابيتفاعلش، يبقى تحت الـ hydrogen.
## 6. Summary

The activity series arranges metals in descending order of chemical activity. Metals above hydrogen displace it from dilute acids; metals below it do not. Active means reacts readily, not hard or strong. Back to the hook: magnesium is above hydrogen and copper is below it. The hook's two metals in dilute hydrochloric acid Chromium is a chemically active metal, yet it resists air. How? Can you explain why gold rings stay shiny, but iron nails rust?



Chapter: Transition Elements (https://yaani.ai/ar/learn/chemistry/chem-s3-en.ch1)
Source: https://yaani.ai/ar/lesson/chem-s3-en.lesson-chem.activity-series