Order of Reactivity (Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry)
Exam board Pearson Edexcel · IGCSEUpdated 2024-08-21
Guided lessons are live for this note
Work through it step by step — key points, depth layers, a worked example and self-checks.
Spec point — know the order of reactivity of these metals: potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold
The reactivity series
Carbon and the reactivity series mnemonic
- Carbon is an important element and has its own place on the reactivity series
- Its use in the extraction of metals from their oxides and a more complete reactivity series with an accompanying mnemonic to help you memorise it is below
The reactivity series mnemonic
- “Please send lions, cats, monkeys and cute zebras into hot countries signed Gordon”
Reactivity series mnemonic table
| Metal | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Most reactive | |
| Potassium | P - Please |
| Sodium | S- Send |
| Lithium | L - Lions |
| Calcium | C - Cats |
| Magnesium | M - Monkeys |
| Aluminium | A - And |
| Carbon | C - Cute |
| Zinc | Z - Zebras |
| Iron | I - Into |
| Hydrogen | H - Hot |
| Copper | C - Countries |
| Silver | S - Signed |
| Gold | G - Gordon |
| Least reactive |
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