Learning the Reactivity Series (IGCSE)

Note: In this section, we will be talking about the elements present in the reactivity series that are only in the IGCSE syllabus.

A major problem all chemistry students face in the topic “The Reactivity series” is memorizing the series itself. Not many are fortunate enough to have the capability of learning the whole series by heart and keeping it in mind for the long term. The good news is, there are ways you can learn the reactivity series and never forget it again.

The Reactivity Series

To make things clear, let us start with the topic itself. The reactivity series is a list of elements (mainly metals) in an order of decreasing reactivity.                                                    

                                                      

As the elements go from bottom to top:

•          They increase in reactivity
•          They lose  electrons more readily to form positive ions
•          They corrode more readily
•    They require more energy and different separate methods to be separated from their ores
•          They become stronger reducing agents (electron donors)

The Periodic Table

You might wonder what role the periodic table plays in learning the Reactivity series. Well it plays a big one!

Everyone has their own ways of learning about a certain topic. However, in the end of the day we all use the same technique. A pattern. It is always easier to learn something when you see a pattern to it and that is exactly what we are going to use the periodic table for.

Have a look at these two and try to compare the elements in the Reactivity series with their respective positions in the periodic table.

You will see that the first three elements- K, Na and Li – are present in the same group, that is group 1. In the second group, we have the two elements- Ca and Mg. At this point you will realize that you have already learned the first five elements in the Reactivity series, they were neighbors the whole time!

Note: We will be skipping the two elements, Carbon and Hydrogen temporarily for our own convenience.

After we are done with Magnesium, we will be jumping to Aluminium over the transition metals, which is present in group 3. At the bottom left of Aluminium, we have Zinc. The pattern we are trying to achieve from this point onward might seem fuzzy, but it is very simple. From Zinc, we go left towards Iron and then again back right to copper. From here, we just go downward-Cu, Ag, Au.

Adding carbon and hydrogen is just as simple. The first four elements ends with the letter ‘m’. So just add the Carbon after the last ‘m’, which is Aluminium. Hydrogen on the other hand can be remembered easily when you place it on top of Copper.

Mnemonics

Mnemonics is another popular and fun way of interacting with obstacles like the reactivity series. It is used as a tool to help memorize a list by remembering specific letters (usually the first) to make up another sentence. For example:

               

My      Very      Eager      Mother      Jumped  (into the)  SUN                  Neptune

Mercury                Earth                        Jupiter             Saturn

                     Venus               Mars                                              Uranus

Similarly, if we apply the same technique with the reactivity series, we can get something like this:

People	Potassium
Say	Sulfur
Little	Lithium
Children	Calcium
Make	Magnesium
A	Aluminium
	Carbon
Zebra	Zinc
I’ll	Iron
	Hydrogen
Constantly	Copper
Sniffing	Silver
Giraffes	Gold

The above table shows only an example, you will find more mnemonics like this in the internet.

Hope this helps. Study hard and good luck with your exams.