Think of the Reactivity Series as a league table. The higher the metal sits, the more desperate it is to react — and the harder it kicks hydrogen out of the acid.
The Test Tube Race 🏁
All four tubes contain dilute HCl. Drop in the metal and watch the race.
MagnesiumVIOLENT
ZincMODERATE
IronSLOW
CopperNO REACTION
💥 THE DANGER ZONE — DO NOT ADD K or Na to Acids!
Potassium and Sodium sit at the very top of the reactivity series — they are so reactive that they explode with cold water, let alone acid. Adding them to dilute HCl would cause a violent, uncontrollable reaction. In the lab, we never use Group 1 metals with acids.
⚠️ HAZARD: K or Na + Acid → Violent explosion + H₂ (flammable) + extreme heat
📋 Syllabus Reference: 9.4.2c (Core)
Metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series (Mg, Al, Zn, Fe) react with dilute acids to form a salt and hydrogen. Metals below hydrogen (Cu, Ag, Au) do not react. Speed of reaction corresponds to position in the reactivity series.
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