In the previous blog post, we have discussed on the physical properties of pure metals as well as the four main reasons why we use metals in the form of alloys.
Today, we shall take a look at The Reactivity Series of Metals.
Metals are listed in the Reactivity Series from the most reactive to the least reactive.
This is useful because it allows you to predict how a particular metal will undergo a certain chemical reaction. For example, the Reactivity Series will show you immediately why coins made of zinc metal look dull after some time while silver and gold coins remain bright and shiny for long period of time. This is simply due to the fact that zinc is more reactive than gold and thus it will react faster with air.
In Singapore, whether you are taking the GCE O-Level Pure Chemistry syllabus or any of the IP Chemistry syllabus, you will need to remember the sequence of metals in the Reactivity Series.
As such, we use mnemonics (super memory techniques) to help our Sec 3 and 4 O-Level Pure Chemistry and IP Chemistry Tuition Class students to recall the list of metals. This is really useful. In fact, you can come out with your own memorising method if you want. Else, just use the one that is presented here. You can download your copy of the Reactivity Series of Metals.
The Reactivity Series of Metals
| Metal | Symbol | Mnemonic |
| Potassium | K | Please |
| Sodium | Na | Stop |
| Calcium | Ca | Calling |
| Magnesium | Mg | Me |
| Aluminium * | Al | A |
| Zinc | Zn | Zebra |
| Iron | Fe | Instead |
| Tin | Sn | Tell |
| Lead | Pb | Laura |
| (Hydrogen) | H | How |
| Copper | Cu | Copper |
| Silver | Ag | Strengthens |
| Gold | Au | Gold |
* Aluminium tends to oxidise readily in air to form aluminium oxide, Al2O3(s). As such, aluminium is not very reactive in our everyday life because it is covered (and thus protected) by the layer of Al2O3(s). Note that the layer of Al2O3(s) has been removed before experiments were conducted by scientists to determine the position of aluminium in the Reactivity Series of Metals.
Special Note:
The Reactivity Series is actually determined by scientists through the reactions of a list of common metals with water, steam and dilute hydrochloric acid. We will discuss this in more detail in the next blog post. Do look out for it!
YouTube Video Tutorial on The Reactivity Series of Metals
You can watch the YouTube Video below to learn how to memorise the list of metals in the Reactivity Series.
Click on the following link for the video on O-Level Chemistry . IP Chemistry: The Reactivity Series of metals
Length of Video: 8.04 minutes
I hope you find the content easy for your understanding and if you have any questions, leave me a comment below. Feel free to share this blog post with your friends.
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PS: Under related articles below, there are several blog post discussions and questions related to Metals. You can also do a keyword search using the search box at the top right hand corner.
PPS: Do check out the Comments Section below to check out mnemonics shared by other Chemistry Teachers/Tutors/Students. Feel free to contribute your version too.
I am aware some schools do add in Carbon. However it can cause unnecessary confusion if not explain properly.
Hope you are doing great! I have some electrolysis videos here: https://www.simplechemconcepts.com/redox-electrolysis/
Our school taught us this:
Please. Potassium
Stop. Sodium
Calling Calcium
Me. Magnesium
A. Aluminium
Crazy. (Carbon)
Zebra. Zinc
Instead Iron
Try. Tin
Learning Lead
How. (Hydrogen)
Cupid. Copper
Shoots. Silver
Gold. Gold
thank you
this helped me alot
thx wfor making this sentence:):):)
First of all, thanks immensely for the wonderful chemistry knowledge that you disseminate.
Mine is a question which i came across in a book and felt challenged because it sounded easy yet I had no answer. Here it is: Given two powdery substances (an element and a compound), how would you categorise each either as an element or a compound?
Pop
Stars
Can
Make
Absolute
Zillions
If
Tiny
Little
Children
Spend
Generous
Pennies
(:
Another version by my GCE O Levels Sec 4 Pure Chemistry student from Catholic High School, Singapore.
Please – K
Stop – Na
Calling – Ca
Me – Mg
A – Al
Zombie – Zn
I – Fe
Love – Pb
Hot – (Hydrogen)
Cute – Cu
Sexy – Ag
Girls – Au
Isn’t this very cheeky?
Anyway, if it works, who cares if it is cheeky? right?
PS: There are other versions that were emailed to me by other students (local and overseas). But due to some words that some races or religions might find it offensive, i have decided not to publish them. Thks guys, for sending to me for sharing, anyways! =)
Hi Shubham,
Thanks for the encouragement!
Feel free to write down your comments and suggested solutions for any of the blogposts!
Hope all Chemistry students helped each other as much as possible and learn Chemistry in a fun fun way =)
U r rocking yar man u r doing welfare of many people
Good to see so many versions of memorising Metals Reactivity Series.
Keep sharing and learning together everyone!
To Your Academic Success in Chemistry,
Sean Chua
Master Trainer & Author
Winners Education Group
everyone is giving his comments, so why shud i stay behind 🙂 🙂 🙂
please – K
send -Na
cats -Ca
monkeys -Mg
and – Al
zebras- Zn
in – Fe
large – Pb
huge- H
cages – Cu
make -Hg
sure – Ag
properly -Pt
locked – l–> gold (Aurum)
please
stop
calling
me
a
zebra
i
love
to
call
those
hot
cheeky
sexy
guys
its very nice………………
thanks for the help it is a realli good method
Please – potassiun
Stop – sodium
Calling -calcium
Me – magnesium
A – aluminium
Zebra – zinc
I – iron
Like – lead
Hot – hydrogen
Chocolate – copper
Mix – mercury
Strawberry – silver
Pie – platinum
HEY. i love chemistry and i think this works.
Please – potassium
Stop -Sodium
Calling -Calcium
Me -Magnesium
A -aluiminium
Zebra -zinc
In -iron
The -tin
Library -lead
Call -copper
Me -mercury
Something -silver
Good -gold
Please (: -platinum
taught by my sch teacher 😀
THIS IS MINE
The potato(potassium) soap(sodium) cannot(calcium) magnetise(magnesium) alvin’s(aluminium) zit(zinc) in(iron)
to(tin) leading(lead) hydro(hydrogen) cop(copper) so merge(mercury) silver gold and plantinum together
here’s another one!
Please
Stop
Calling
My
Aunt
Zee
In
London’s
House
Cos
She
Got
Piles
Please
Send
Cats
Monkeys
And
Zebras
In
Large
Cages
Make
Sure
Padlocked {platinum, same as gold }
People – k
Say – na
Can – ca
Make – mg
A – al
Zoo – zn
In – iron
Tampines – tin
Let – lead
Hitler – hydrogen
Conquer – copper
Malaysia – mecury
So – sliver
Good – gold
try this to remember =D :
People
Saw
China
Man
At
Zoo
In
Thailand
Looking
(H)orses
Chasing
Silver
Gorrilla
Please
Stop
Calling
Me
A
Zebra
Instead
Let’s
Call
Serene
Gorilla
this works great for me.
another way!!
please
stop
calling
me
a
zebra
in
the
library
hor
can
stop
girl
Please
Stop
Calling
Me
A
Zerba
Instead
Try
Learning
(H)ow
Copper
Strengthens
Gold
This is how i remember it…
there’s another method in remembering this (:
Please
Stop
Calling
Me
A
Zebra
I
Love
Chocolate
Milk
So
Good (:
Hope this helps too.