IGCSEChemistryEdexcelChemistry (Modular)Unit 1Revision Notes2. Inorganic Chemistry: Part 1Reactivity seriesOrder of Reactivity

Order of Reactivity (Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry (Modular))

Revision Note

Stewart Hird

Expertise

Chemistry Lead

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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    Stewart Hird

    Author: Stewart Hird

    Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Topic Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.