AQA GCSE Chemistry Paper 1 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The top of the reactivity series is occupied by potassium, which is a highly reactive alkali metal. This series ranks metals based on their ability to displace other metals from their compounds and their reactivity with water and acids. Potassium readily reacts with water, producing hydrogen gas and forming a strong alkaline solution of potassium hydroxide, illustrating its high reactivity.

In contrast, iron, gold, and silver are less reactive; gold is particularly known for being unreactive and resistant to corrosion, while iron can rust and does not react as vigorously with water. Silver also shows limited reactivity, primarily engaging in reactions with stronger oxidizing agents at elevated temperatures. This understanding of the reactivity series is essential in predicting chemical behavior, particularly in displacement reactions and when metals are exposed to various environments.