Reactivity series
9.4What the syllabus asks of you
- State the order of the reactivity series as: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, carbon, zinc, iron, hydrogen, copper, silver, gold
- Describe the relative reactivities of metals in terms of their tendency to form positive ions, by displacement reactions, if any, with the aqueous ions of magnesium, zinc, iron, copper and silver
- Describe the reactions, if any, of: (a) potassium, sodium and calcium with cold water (b) magnesium with steam (c) magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, silver and gold with dilute hydrochloric acid and explain these reactions in terms of the position of the metals in the reactivity series
- Explain the apparent unreactivity of aluminium in terms of its oxide layer
- Deduce an order of reactivity from a given set of experimental results
Read the notes first
Chapter 9: Reactivity series
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35 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
ACopper displaces magnesium from aqueous magnesium sulfate.
BCarbon reacts with magnesium oxide; carbon dioxide is one product of this reaction.
CIron displaces silver from aqueous silver nitrate.
DHydrogen reacts with zinc oxide; water is one product of this reaction.
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2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Acalcium
Bpotassium
Csilver
Dzinc
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3Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AAluminium contains small amounts of a more reactive metal that reacts with the acid instead.
BAluminium is above hydrogen in the reactivity series.
CAluminium is amphoteric and will only react with bases.
DAluminium is coated with an oxide layer that prevents the acid getting to the metal.
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4May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
AAluminium is above hydrogen in the reactivity series.
BAluminium is below hydrogen in the reactivity series.
CThe objects become coated with a protective layer of aluminium nitride.
DThe objects become coated with a protective layer of aluminium oxide.
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5Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q29Show mark scheme →
Aaluminium
Bcalcium
Cmagnesium
Dzinc
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6May / June 2024 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
AP > S > Q > R
BP > S > R > Q
CS > P > Q > R
DS > P > R > Q
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7May / June 2024 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
ACopper is unreactive because of an oxide layer.
BGold and silver are used to make jewellery because they corrode very slowly.
CMagnesium can be displaced from aqueous solutions of its ions by adding aluminium.
DZinc gains electrons more readily than magnesium gains electrons.
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8Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Aaluminium
Bcopper
Ciron
Dsilver
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9Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Acalcium, blue
Bcalcium, red
Cmagnesium, blue
Dmagnesium, red
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10May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q6Show mark scheme →
AAg+(aq) + Cu(s) → Ag(s) + Cu2+(aq) + e–
B2Ag+(aq) + Cu(s) → 2Ag(s) + Cu2+(aq)
C2AgNO3(aq) + Cu(s) → 2Ag(s) + Cu(NO3)2(aq)
D2Ag(s) + Cu2+(aq) → 2Ag+(aq) + Cu(s)
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11May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q27Show mark scheme →
AQ T R
BR Q T
CR T Q
DT R Q
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12May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q29Show mark scheme →
Asodium, magnesium, sodium
Bsodium, copper, copper
Ccopper, magnesium, copper
Dsodium, copper, sodium
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13Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
ACu and Zn electrodes in CuSO4(aq)
BCu and Zn electrodes in ZnSO4(aq)
CNa and Cu electrodes in CuSO4(aq)
DMg and Cu electrodes in MgSO4(aq)
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14May / June 2022 · Paper 11 · Q32Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 2 only
C1 and 3 only
D2 and 3 only
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15May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q32Show mark scheme →
ACalcium reacts with cold water but not with steam.
BLead carbonate decomposes at a higher temperature than zinc carbonate.
CMagnesium can be extracted from its oxide by heating strongly with carbon.
DPure aluminium reacts with cold, dilute hydrochloric acid.
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16Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q31Show mark scheme →
ACalcium does not react with cold water.
BIron reacts slowly with steam to produce an oxide of iron and hydrogen.
CMagnesium reacts with steam to produce magnesium hydroxide and oxygen.
DSodium reacts with cold water to produce aqueous sodium oxide and hydrogen.
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17Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
AP is the least reactive.
BQ would displace R from a solution of its salt.
CR could be zinc.
DS could be copper.
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18May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Amagnesium
Bcalcium
Ccopper
Dzinc
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19May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q34Show mark scheme →
AAluminium is obtained by heating aluminium oxide with carbon.
BAluminium is produced at the anode by electrolysis of aluminium oxide dissolved in molten cryolite.
CAluminium is unreactive as it forms an oxide coating.
DAluminium is used in overhead electricity cables as it is a good conductor of electricity and has a high density.
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20Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q29Also set in Oct / Nov 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
ABubbles of gas will appear.
BNo reaction occurs.
CPink copper will be deposited on the silver strip.
DThe silver strip will start to dissolve.
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21Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q30Also set in Oct / Nov 2020 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AAluminium is formed when aluminium oxide is heated with hydrogen.
BCopper displaces zinc from aqueous zinc sulfate.
CCopper is formed when copper(II) oxide is heated with hydrogen.
DWhen added to water, aluminium forms positive ions more readily than potassium forms positive ions.
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22Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q27Also set in Oct / Nov 2019 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Acalcium carbonate
Bcopper(II) carbonate
Clead(II) carbonate
Dzinc carbonate
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23May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q30Show mark scheme →
AM carbonate is stable when heated.
BM oxide is reduced to M by heating with carbon.
CM reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to give hydrogen.
DM reduces zinc oxide to zinc on heating.
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24Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AAg(s) and CuSO4(aq)
BCu(s) and MgSO4(aq)
CMg(s) and CaSO4(aq)
DZn(s) and CuSO4(aq)
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25Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q29Show mark scheme →
Ametal X: Al, metal Y: Fe, method of extraction of Y: electrolysis
Bmetal X: Al, metal Y: Fe, method of extraction of Y: reduction with carbon
Cmetal X: Fe, metal Y: Al, method of extraction of Y: electrolysis
Dmetal X: Fe, metal Y: Al, method of extraction of Y: reduction with carbon
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26Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q31Also set in Oct / Nov 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AIt has a layer of oxide on its surface.
BIt has a low density.
CIt is a good conductor of electricity.
DIt is in Group III of the Periodic Table.
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27May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
ACopper reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid to form hydrogen.
BSodium oxide is reduced to sodium metal by heating with carbon.
CZinc carbonate is more thermally stable than sodium carbonate.
DZinc displaces copper from aqueous copper(II) sulfate.
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28Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q14Show mark scheme →
Acolourless neutral solution, 1 mol of copper
Bblue neutral solution, 0.5 mol of copper + 0.5 mol of zinc
Cblue neutral solution, 1 mol of zinc
Dcolourless acidic solution, 1 mol of copper + 1 mol of zinc
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29Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q15Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 3 only
C1 only
D2 and 3 only
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30Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
AAluminium does not react with acids.
BAluminium does not react with alkalis.
CAluminium is alloyed with other metals.
DAluminium is protected by a layer of oxide.
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31May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AW → X → Y → Z
BX → W → Z → Y
CY → Z → X → W
DZ → Y → W → X
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32Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q28Also set in Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
AAtmospheric oxygen reacts with the copper(II) sulfate to give black copper(II) oxide.
BSome fine iron particles are formed in the solution.
CThe part of the container in contact with the solution is coated with copper.
DThe solution turns from green to blue.
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33Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
Alead and sodium
Bmagnesium and copper
Cpotassium and silver
Dsodium and potassium
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34May / June 2016 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Acalcium oxide
Blead oxide
Cmagnesium oxide
Dzinc oxide
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35May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Acalcium oxide
Bcopper(II) oxide
Cmagnesium oxide
Dzinc oxide
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