1. Predicting Single Replacement Reactions
The Activity Series
Predicting Single Replacement Reactions

2. THE ACTIVITY SERIES Not every single-replacement reaction will happen.
The element on the reactant side must be more “active” than the one it could replace.
Scientists have listed the order of activity of elements in THE ACTIVITY SERIES.

3. Let’s look at several reactions: Fe + CuSO4  Cu + Fe2(SO4)3
Li + H2O  LiOH + H2
Such experiments reveal trends. The activity series ranks the relative reactivity of metals.
It allows us to predict if certain chemicals will undergo single displacement reactions when mixed: metals near the top are most reactive and will displace metals near the bottom.
Q: Which of these will react?
Fe + CuSO4 
Ni + NaCl 
Li + ZnCO3 
Al + CuCl2  K Na Li Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Ni Sn Pb H Cu Hg Ag Au
No, Ni is below Na
Yes, Li is above Zn
Yes, Al is above Cu
Yes, Fe is above Cu
Cu + Fe2(SO4)3
NR (no reaction)
Zn + Li2CO3
Cu + AlCl3

4. A: No for cold, yes if it is hot/steam Mg + H2O  H2 + Mg(OH)2 acid
H is the only nonmetal listed. H2 may be displaced from acids or can be given off when a metal reacts with H2O (producing H2 + metal hydroxide). The reaction with H2O depends on metal reactivity & water temp.
Q: will Mg react with H2O? K Na Li Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Ni Sn Pb H Cu Hg Ag Au
cold H2O
hot H2O
steam
A: No for cold, yes if it is hot/steam
Mg + H2O 
H2 + Mg(OH)2
acid
Q: Zn + HCl 
H2 + ZnCl2
Complete these reactions:
Al + H2O(steam) 
Cu + H2O 
Ca + H2SO4 
Na + H2O 
H2 + Al(OH)3 NR
H2 + CaSO4
H2 + NaOH

5. Other Activity Series Information
All metals will have a specific place in the activity series. For simplicity, only the most common metals are shown.
The metals near the top of the activity series are more reactive because their valence electrons are more easily removed.
On tests and exams the activity series may appear as K, Na, … Ag, Au; you must remember that K is reactive, Au is not.
If the valence of a metal is not indicated in the question, use its most common valence (in bold on your periodic table) to determine the correct chemical formula.

6. There is also an activity series for non-metals:
The activity series ranks the relative reactivity of non-metals.
It allows us to predict if certain chemicals will undergo single displacement reactions when mixed: non-metals near the top are most reactive and will displace non-metals near the bottom.
Q: Which of these will react?
I NaCl 
F NaBr 
Yes, F2 is above Br2 F2
Cl2
Br2 I2
No, I2 is below Cl2
NR (no reaction)
Br NaF