Note: the order of the metals Activity Series of Metals Certain elements may not seem

follows the "electrochemical Most reactive lithium Li that active as metals based on
series" which includes factors in regular observations. Aluminum
rubidium Rb
addition to their placement on seems very stable but indeed, as
potassium K
the periodic table. For example, a metal, it is really active. In the
barium Ba
a lithium atom is less reactive real world, it is coated by a patina
strontium Sr
than the atoms of other of it's own oxide which is
calcium Ca
elements in its group in the transparent and microscopic, and
sodium Na this patina protects the atoms
sense that when exposed to a
non metal, it will behave less
magnesium Mg below from reacting with many
"aggressively" than the other
beryllium Be other elements and compounds.
elements in that group.
aluminum Al Just so you know. Iron just forms
manganese Mn an oxide that is weak, and we call
Replacement of another metallic zinc Zn that "rust" on iron and it just falls
ion in aqueous solutions isn't the cadmium Cd off so iron is less active than
"same" kind of activity. iron Fe aluminum but has little
Combining and replacing have cobalt Co protection from surrounding
different mechanisms in nickel Ni elements.
chemistry and even as tin Sn
vocabulary words outside of lead Pb
science, these words have Elements below hydrogen do not
(hydrogen) (H2)
different meanings. The radius react with non oxidizing acids (i.e.
copper Cu
of an ion influences activity in an HCl) but can react with inorganic
mercury Hg
aqueous solution due to the "oxy" acids, (i.e. HNO3 ) but those
silver Ag
distance between the nuclei of reactions are generally not single
palladium Pd replacement reactions, but are of a
ions.in this list. The result is that
platinum Pt more complex form of an oxidation-
a +1 ion of a smaller radius will
Least reactive gold Au reduction reaction.
behave differently than a +1 ion
with a larger radius.

Activity Series of Non-Metals

Most reactive fluorine F
chlorine Cl
oxygen O
bromine Br
iodine I
sulfur S
Least reactive (red) phosphorus P