Trivial
Chemistry

Metals

The reactivity series, displacement, uses and alloys, extraction from ores and transition metals.

8 min read

A metal's reactivity reflects how readily it forms positive ions; more reactive metals are harder to extract. A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive one from a compound, which lets you place metals in order.

Worked example

Iron added to copper(II) sulfate solution:

Iron is more reactive, so it displaces copper.

Uses follow properties, e.g. aluminium (light), copper (conducts), gold (unreactive), titanium (strong, corrosion-resistant). Alloys mix metals to tailor properties. Most ores are metal oxides, and extraction always involves reduction (removing oxygen): reactive metals by electrolysis, less reactive ones by reduction with carbon.

Transition metals typically form ions with more than one oxidation state, form coloured compounds, and are often used as catalysts.

  • Thinking a less reactive metal can displace a more reactive one.
  • Saying extraction is oxidation (removing oxygen from an ore is reduction).