Write the activity series of metals. Discuss the experiment for determination of activity series of Fe, Cu and Ag metals.

The activity series of metals is a list of metals ranked in order of decreasing reactivity to displace hydrogen gas from its aqueous solution. It can also be used to predict which metals will displace other metals in aqueous solutions.

Experiment:

Step-1: Take 2 test tubes and mark them as 1 and 2.

Step-2: In test tube 1 add 0.1 gram of copper sulphate and in test tube 2 add 0.1 gram of silver nitrate.

Step-3: Add 10 ml of water in both the test tubes and dissolve them.

Step-4: Now bring an iron nail and copper wire and add these to test tube 1 and 2.

Step-5: Place them in order and observe them.

Step-6: After 30 minutes we will observe that in test tube-1 iron nail will appear brown due to deposition of copper on it. In test tube -2 a white shining colour deposited on the copper wire.

Step-7: From the experiment we can conclude that iron (Fe) is more active metal than copper (Cu) because Cu from solution of CuSo₄ was displaced by iron i.e. Fe>Cu. Cu is more active metal than Ag because Ag was displaced from its solution of AgNO₃ by Cu metal i.e. Cu>Ag.

Thus the final order is Fe>Cu>Ag.

Activity series of metals:

K>Na>Ca>Mg>Al>Zn>Fe>Pb>[H]>Cu>Hg>Ag>Au