Lists of metals (sometimes with
some carbon or hydrogen)
The list tells you all about their
reactivities from most reactive to
least reactive
The more easily a metal atom loses its outer electrons and
forms a positive ion, the more reactive it will be.
To show which metals are more
reactive than others all you do is
place little pieces of various
metals into dilute hydrochloric
acid. The more reactive the metal
is, the faster the reaction with the
acid will go.
Very reactive metals (e.g. magnesium) will fizz
vigorously, less reactive metal (e.g. zinc) will bubble a
bit, and unreactive metals (e.g. copper) will not react
with dilute acids at all .
You can show that hydrogen is forming using the
burning splint test. The louder the squeaky pop, the
more hydrogen has been made in the time period
and the more reactive the metal is