Q. Illustrate Activity Series for Metals?
Ans.
An activity series is a series that orders substances on the basis of their reactivity. The following diagram is the activity series for metals.
The higher a metal is in the activity series, the more reactive that metal is. This table is a valuable tool for predicting the chemical behavior of the metals.
Metals React By Losing Electrons.
Why is sodium more reactive than magnesium? When metals react, they lose electrons to form positive ions. Reactivity, therefore, depends on how readily the metal atoms lose electrons to form ions.
For example, Na -> Na+ + e-
Metals that lose electrons (i.e., they become positive ions) more readily are said to be more electropositive.
The Group I (for example, Li) and II (for example, Mg) metals are more electropositive than the transition metals (for example, Fe and Cu). The tendency of elements to lose electrons decreases across a period. For example, reactivity decreases in the order Na > Mg > Al across the third period. The tendency of elements to lose electrons decreases up a group. For example, reactivity decreases in the order K > Na > Li in Group I.