Question

What is meant by mental reactivity series ? State its importance, (any two points).

Answer 1

In chemistry, a reactivity series (or activity series) is an empirical, calculated, and structurally analytical progression of a series of metals, arranged by their "reactivity" from highest to lowest.

Special features of the activity series:
1. The ease with which a metal in solution loses electron(s) and forms a positive ion decreases
down the series, i.e. from potassium to gold.2. Hydrogen is included in the activity series because, like metals do, it too loses an electron and
becomes positively charged (H + ) in most chemical reactions.
3. The series facilitates the comparative study of metals in terms of the degree of their reactivity.
4. The compounds of the metals (oxides, carbonates, nitrates and hydroxides) too can be easily
compared.