1. Predicting Single Displacement Reactions
The Reactivity Series
Predicting Single Displacement Reactions

2. THE REACTIVITY 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. Fe + Cu Sulphate  Cu + Fe Sulphate Li + H2O  Li Hydroxide + H2
Let’s look at several reactions: Don’t worry about how to write the formula yet
Fe + Cu Sulphate  Cu + Fe Sulphate
Li + H2O  Li Hydroxide + 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 + Cu Sulphate 
Ni + Na Chloride 
Li + Zn Carbonate 
Al + Cu Chloride  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

4. Complete the following equations using chemical names.
Ex. Fe+ Cu Sulphate Fe Sulphate + Cu Ni + Na Chloride  Li + Zn Carbonate  Al + Cu Chloride 

5. Displacement reactions: metals
Copper is quite low in the activity series.
Several metals will displace it from its compounds.
copper
sulphate
solution
magnesium
magnesium
sulphate solution
copper metal K Na Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Cu Ag Au +
Copper sulphate
Magnesium 
Magnesium sulphate +
Copper
more
reactive
less
reactive
Magnesium wins the competition. Copper is displaced.

6. Displacement reactions: metals
Here are some actual photos.
The colour changes from blue to red/black as copper metal is displaced.
photograph at start of reaction
photograph at end of reaction K Na Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Cu Ag Au +
Copper sulphate 
Magnesium sulphate
Magnesium +
Copper
more
reactive
less
reactive
Magnesium wins the competition. Copper is displaced

7. A: No for cold, yes if it is hot/steam Mg + H2O  H2 + Mg Hydroxide
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 Hydroxide
acid
Q: Zn + HCl 
H2 + Zn Chloride
General Rule if there is a reaction:
Metal + Water = Hydrogen gas + Metal hydroxide
Metal + Hydrogen Chloride (Hydrochloric acid) = Hydrogen gas + Metal Chloride

8. Complete these reactions:
Al + H2O(steam) 
Cu + H2O 
Ca + H2SO4 
Na + H2O 

9. Complete these reactions:
Al + H2O(steam) 
Cu + H2O  NR
Ca + H2SO4 
Na + H2O 

10. 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.