Application no 6

2. Metals can be arranged in an activity series
Decreasingreactivity
Decreasingstrengthofreducingagent
The metals in the
activity series are
arranged in order of
how easily they are
oxidised to form
positive ions

3. • Form positive ions more easily
• Therefore, more reactive
• Lose electrons more readily
• Stronger reducing agents
Metals higher up the series :

4. • The metals high in the activity series displace those
lower in the series from solutions of their salts.

5. For instance, when a piece of zinc is put in a
solution containing copper(II) ions,
• The zinc becomes coated with copper
• The blue colour of the solutions fades
• The solutions get warmer
CuSO4 (aq)
Zn

6. • Zinc displaces copper from solution – this is called a
displacement reaction or a single replacement
reaction

7. • Zn(s) + Cu2+
(aq)  Zn2+
(aq) + Cu (s)
Oxidation
Reduction