Oxidation and Reduction of Metals

• Classic AP Chemistry Experiment
• Determine Which Metal is the Most Reactive
• Instructions Included

An activity series of metals is a table of metals arranged in the order of their decreasing chemical activity or the ease at which the metal will give up one or more electrons to form positive ions. This table is similar to the electrochemical series of elements. For example if you take the group of metals magnesium, mercury and nickel, magnesium is the most reactive and mercury the least. To empirically determine which of these metals is more reactive, place a piece of the metal in a salt solution of the other. The more reactive metal will replace the less reactive metal and the less reactive will appear in the solid form. The reactive metal has been oxidized; the less reactive metal has been reduced.