Question

Why is knowledge of the activity series crucial in choosing which metal to build things with?

Answer 1

Answer:

activity series is a list of substances ranked in order of relative reactivity.

For example, magnesium metal can displace hydrogen ions from solution. So magnesium is more reactive than hydrogen:

Mg(s) + 2H⁺(aq) → H₂(g) + Mg²⁺(aq)

Zinc metal can also displace hydrogen ions from solution:

Zn(s) + 2H⁺(aq) → H₂(g) + Zn²⁺(aq)

so zinc is also more active than hydrogen.

But magnesium metal can displace zinc ions from solution:

Mg(s) + Zn²⁺(aq) → Zn(s) + Mg²⁺(aq)

so magnesium is more active than zinc.

The activity series including these elements would be Mg > Zn > H.

Chemists have built up a complete activity series in a similar way.

The most active metals are at the top of the table; the least active are at the bottom.

Any metal that is higher in the series will displace a metal that is below it in a