📚 The Reactivity Series and Common Metal Reactions | 金属活动性顺序与常见金属反应
The reactivity series is a fundamental concept in chemistry that ranks metals by their tendency to lose electrons and form positive ions. It allows us to predict how metals will behave in reactions with acids, water, and salt solutions.
金属活动性顺序是化学中的一个基本概念，它按照金属失去电子并形成正离子的倾向强弱对金属进行排序。借助这一顺序，我们可以预测金属与酸、水和盐溶液反应时的行为。
1. The Reactivity Series | 金属活动性顺序
Metals are arranged in descending order of reactivity. A common list is: potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), hydrogen (H), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), and gold (Au).
金属按反应活性从高到低排列。常见顺序为：钾（K）、钙（Ca）、钠（Na）、镁（Mg）、铝（Al）、锌（Zn）、铁（Fe）、锡（Sn）、铅（Pb）、氢（H）、铜（Cu）、汞（Hg）、银（Ag）、铂（Pt）、金（Au）。
The most reactive metals are at the top, while the least reactive are at the bottom. Hydrogen is included as a reference point for comparing reactions with acids.
最活泼的金属位于顶部，最不活泼的位于底部。氢被列入其中，作为比较金属与酸反应能力的参考点。
A useful mnemonic is: “Please Stop Calling Me A Cute Zebra, I Like Heavy Cars, Silver, Platinum, Gold” — but many students prefer their own memory aids.
一个常用的记忆口诀是“钾钙钠镁铝，锌铁锡铅氢，铜汞银铂金”。当然，你也可以用自己的方法辅助记忆。
2. Reaction with Acids | 与酸的反应
Metals above hydrogen in the reactivity series react with dilute hydrochloric acid or dilute sulfuric acid to produce a salt and hydrogen gas. For example:
位于氢之前的金属能与稀盐酸或稀硫酸反应，生成盐和氢气。例如：
Zn + 2HCl → ZnCl₂ + H₂↑
Zn + H₂SO₄ → ZnSO₄ + H₂↑
The general equation is: metal + acid → salt + hydrogen. The speed of bubbling indicates the reactivity of the metal.
通式为：金属 + 酸 → 盐 + 氢气。产生气泡的快慢反映了金属的活动性。
Magnesium reacts vigorously, iron reacts slowly, copper does not react with dilute acids because it lies below hydrogen.
镁与酸反应剧烈，铁反应较慢，铜位于氢之后，因此不与稀酸反应。
3. Reaction with Water and Steam | 与水和水蒸气的反应
Very reactive metals (K, Ca, Na) react vigorously with cold water to produce a metal hydroxide and hydrogen gas. For example:
非常活泼的金属（K、Ca、Na）能与冷水剧烈反应，生成金属氢氧化物和氢气。例如：
2Na + 2H₂O → 2NaOH + H₂↑
Sodium moves on the water surface, melts into a shiny ball, and fizzes rapidly. Potassium may ignite with a lilac flame.
钠在水面上游动，熔化成闪亮的小球，并快速发出嘶嘶声。钾可能着火，产生淡紫色火焰。
Calcium reacts less violently, producing a cloudy solution of calcium hydroxide and bubbles of hydrogen.
钙与水反应稍缓和，生成浑浊的氢氧化钙溶液并放出氢气。
Magnesium and aluminium react very slowly with cold water, but they react readily with steam, forming the metal oxide and hydrogen:
镁和铝与冷水反应非常慢，但能较快与水蒸气反应，生成金属氧化物和氢气：
Mg + H₂O(g) → MgO + H₂↑
Iron also reacts with steam, but requires continuous heating. Zinc and tin react with steam only when strongly heated.
铁也能与水蒸气反应，但需要持续加热。锌和锡只有在强热条件下才与水蒸气反应。
4. Reaction with Salt Solutions | 与盐溶液的反应
A more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its salt solution. This is a displacement reaction.
较活泼的金属能够将较不活泼的金属从其盐溶液中置换出来，这称为置换反应。
Fe + CuSO₄ → FeSO₄ + Cu
Iron is above copper, so iron displaces copper. The blue copper sulfate solution turns pale green as iron sulfate forms, and brown copper solid deposits on the iron.
铁位于铜之前，因此铁能置换出铜。蓝色的硫酸铜溶液因生成硫酸亚铁而变为浅绿色，铁表面沉积出红棕色的铜。
If a less reactive metal is placed in a solution containing a more reactive metal’s salt, no reaction occurs. For example, copper placed in zinc sulfate solution does nothing.
如果将较不活泼的金属放入较活泼金属的盐溶液中，则不会发生反应。例如，铜放入硫酸锌溶液中没有任何变化。
5. Displacement Reactions | 置换反应
A displacement reaction has the general form: A + BC → AC + B, where A is more reactive than B.
置换反应的通式为：A + BC → AC + B，其中A比B更活泼。
These reactions are redox reactions. The metal that is displaced gains electrons and is reduced, while the displacing metal loses electrons and is oxidised.
置换反应属于氧化还原反应。被置换出的金属得到电子被还原，而参与置换的金属失去电子被氧化。
Halogens can also displace less reactive halogens, but in the context of metals, we focus on metal displacement.
卤素之间也有类似的置换反应，但在金属部分，我们重点关注金属之间的置换。
Students should be able to write ionic equations. For example, the ionic equation for zinc displacing copper is:
学生应能写出离子方程式。例如，锌置换铜的离子方程式为：
Zn + Cu²⁺ → Zn²⁺ + Cu
6. Predicting Reactions Using the Series | 利用活动性顺序预测反应
To predict whether a reaction will happen, compare the positions of the two metals. If the metal is above the other, displacement occurs; if below, no reaction.
要判断反应能否发生，只需比较两种金属在顺序表中的位置。如果一种金属位于另一种之上，则置换反应能发生；若位于之下，则不能。
For acids: only metals above hydrogen react with dilute acids. Metals below hydrogen give no reaction.
对于酸：只有位于氢之前的金属才能与稀酸反应。氢之后的金属不反应。
For water: only the very reactive metals react with cold water. Metals like Mg, Al, Zn, Fe react with steam, while Cu and below do not react with either.
对于水：只有非常活泼的金属能与冷水反应。镁、铝、锌、铁能与水蒸气反应，而铜及其之后的金属既不与冷水也不与水蒸气反应。
Consider an example: lead (Pb) is above hydrogen but only reacts slowly with acids. Copper, below hydrogen, does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid.
例如：铅在氢之前，但与酸反应很慢。铜在氢之后，不与稀盐酸反应。
7. Applications of the Reactivity Series | 金属活动性顺序的应用
The reactivity series is used to extract metals from their ores. Metals above carbon must be extracted by electrolysis, while metals below carbon can be extracted by reduction with carbon.
金属活动性顺序可用于金属的冶炼。位于碳之前的金属需通过电解法提取，而位于碳之后的金属可用碳还原法提取。
For example, iron is extracted from iron oxide using carbon monoxide in a blast furnace. Copper can be obtained by roasting its sulfide ore, then reducing with carbon.
例如，铁通过高炉中用一氧化碳还原氧化铁来冶炼。铜可通过焙烧硫化物矿石，再用碳还原获得。
The series also explains sacrificial protection. Zinc is used to protect iron because zinc reacts more readily with oxygen, so it corrodes first, leaving the iron intact.
该顺序还解释了牺牲阳极保护法。锌被用来保护铁，因为锌更容易与氧气反应，因此锌先腐蚀，铁得以保持完好。
Thermite reaction uses aluminium to displace iron from iron(III) oxide, producing molten iron for welding railway tracks:
铝热反应利用铝将铁从氧化铁中置换出来，产生熔融的铁用于焊接铁轨：
2Al + Fe₂O₃ → Al₂O₃ + 2Fe
8. The Reactivity Series Table | 活动性顺序对比表
The table below summarises the reactions of metals with oxygen, water, and dilute acid.
下表总结了金属与氧气、水和稀酸的反应情况。
| Metal | Reaction with O₂ | Reaction with H₂O | Reaction with dilute acid |
|---|---|---|---|
| K, Na, Ca | Burn vigorously | React with cold water | Explosive / vigorous |
| Mg, Al | Burn brightly | React slowly with cold water; react with steam | Fast |
| Zn, Fe, Sn, Pb | React when heated | Only with steam | Slow to moderate |
| Cu, Hg, Ag | React only on strong heating | No reaction | No reaction with dilute acids |
| Pt, Au | No reaction | No reaction | No reaction |
This table helps you quickly compare the behaviour of common metals across different reactants.
该表能帮助你快速比较常见金属对不同反应物的行为差异。
9. Common Exam Pitfalls | 常见考试误区
Many students forget that aluminium appears above zinc but forms a protective oxide layer. Its reaction with acid is initially slow unless the oxide layer is removed.
许多学生忘记铝虽然排在锌之前，但其表面有致密的氧化膜。如果不除去氧化膜，铝与酸的反应起初会很慢。
Another mistake is saying that copper reacts with dilute acid. Copper is below hydrogen and does not displace hydrogen from acid.
另一个常见错误是认为铜能与稀酸反应。铜位于氢之后，不能从酸中置换出氢气。
Some students confuse the reaction of calcium with water. Calcium sinks slowly, releasing bubbles, and the solution becomes cloudy due to calcium hydroxide.
有些学生混淆钙与水的反应。钙缓慢下沉并产生气泡，生成氢氧化钙使溶液变浑浊。
Remember that displacement reactions require a metal salt solution, not the solid salt. For example, iron can displace copper from copper(II) sulfate solution, but not from solid copper(II) oxide unless heated.
要记住置换反应需要金属盐溶液，而不是固体盐。例如，铁能从硫酸铜溶液中置换出铜，但不能与固体氧化铜直接置换（除非加热）。
10. Summary | 小结
The reactivity series ranks metals by their tendency to lose electrons. It enables us to predict and explain reactions with acids, water, and salt solutions.
金属活动性顺序按金属失去电子的倾向排序。它使我们能够预测并解释金属与酸、水和盐溶液的反应。
Key rules: metals above hydrogen react with acids; the very reactive metals react with cold water; a more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its salt solution.
核心规则：氢之前的金属与酸反应；非常活泼的金属与冷水反应；较活泼的金属能将较不活泼的金属从其盐溶液中置换出来。
Master these rules and practice writing balanced equations to succeed in exams.
掌握这些规则并练习书写配平的化学方程式，你就能在考试中取得好成绩。
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