1. Does a connection or relationship exist between the reactivity of a metal and when it was discovered?

2. Aim. I will try to prove if there is indeed any relationship between the reactivity of a metal and when it was discovered. I will do this using metals from the reactivity series like Gold, Platinum and Copper

3. The ReactivitySeries.

4. Metal’s Discovery Date.

5. Potassium. Symbol: K (Kalium) Atomic Number: 19 Atomic Mass: 39.0983. Potassium is a highly reactive alkali metal that was discovered in 1807 by Sir Humphrey Davy. It reacts with oxygen rapidly to form oxides of itself e.g. potassium oxide and with water to form hydroxides (KOH) and Hydrogen.

6. Calcium. Symbol: Ca Atomic Number: 20 Atomic Mass: 40.078 Calcium is an alkali earth metal reacts with air to form Calcium Oxide (CaO). If this is added to water, Ca(OH) 2 is formed otherwise known as slaked lime. Calcium was discovered in 1808 by Sir Humphrey Davy.

7. Magnesium. Symbol: Mg Atomic Number: 12 Atomic Mass: 24.305 Magnesium is an alkali earth metal and constitutes about 2% of the earths crust mass. This makes it the eighth most abundant metal in the world. It was discovered in 1808, by suprise!! Sir Humphrey Davy.

8. Iron. Symbol: Fe (Ferrum) Atomic Number: 26 Atomic Mass: 55.847 It is t fourth most abundant element in the earth’s crust. Iron was discovered around 2000BC. It is the first element in the transitional series in the periodic table. Reacts with air and water to form Ferrous Oxide (Fe 2 O 3 )otherwise known as Rust.

9. Gold. Symbol: Aurum (Au) Atomic Number: 79 Atomic Mass: 196.96655 Gold is a transition metal. It is very un- reactive, even if left in oxygen or water for long periods of time. Gold was discovered around 5000BC. Because of its low reactivity, it is found freely and doesn’t have to be mined.

10. Pattern? Do you see a pattern now?...no?... Okay let me explain. All the un-reactive or rather less reactive metals were found years before the more reactive ones. Why? You ask: well because back then, the technology needed to isolate and mine these various metals were not available so its therefore plausible that only natural occurring metals like Gold, Iron, Silver e.t.c. were used because no extra refining was necessary.

11. Conclusion. So Yes there is a noticeable relationship between the discovery date of a metal and the reactivity of the metal. The only lesser reactive metal which wasn’t found very long ago (16 th century) is Platinum, but this is because it is extremely rare and only occupies about 0.001%!!! And so it is extremely expensive