Free Reactivity series questions for IGCSE Chemistry (0620), part of Metals. Each question has the answer and the marking points an examiner would look for.
Generate a full Reactivity Series worksheet →All Metals questionsMetal R displaces P from a solution of its salt but does not displace S.
Metal Q does not react with a solution of any of the other three salts.
Metal S displaces R.
What is the order of reactivity, most reactive first?
Answer: D
Which statement describes reactivity series?
Answer: B
A student adds pieces of four metals, W, X, Y and Z, to solutions of each other’s nitrates. A tick (✓) shows that a reaction took place.
| metal | W nitrate | X nitrate | Y nitrate | Z nitrate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | — | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| X | ✗ | — | ✗ | ✗ |
| Y | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Z | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | — |
Put the four metals in order of reactivity, most reactive first. Explain how you used the results.
The four metals are magnesium, zinc, iron and copper. Identify metal X and describe what the student would see when metal Y is added to a solution of X nitrate.
Write a word equation and an ionic equation for the reaction of zinc with copper(II) nitrate solution.
Explain, in terms of electrons, why this is a redox reaction.
Explain why iron cannot be extracted from its oxide by heating with copper.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Y, W, Z, X Y most reactive (displaces all three) B1 X least reactive (displaces none) B1 W above Z because W displaces Z B1 | 3 |
| (b) | X is copper; Y (magnesium) becomes coated with a pink-brown solid; blue solution fades to colourless X is copper B1 pink/brown (copper) solid forms on metal B1 blue colour of solution fades B1 | 3 |
| (c) | zinc + copper(II) nitrate → zinc nitrate + copper; Zn + Cu2+ → Zn2+ + Cu word equation B1 ionic equation formulae B1 balanced including charges B1 | 3 |
| (d) | Zinc loses electrons (oxidised); copper ions gain electrons (reduced) zinc atoms lose electrons, oxidised B1 copper(II) ions gain electrons, reduced B1 | 2 |
| (e) | Copper is less reactive than iron so it cannot remove oxygen from iron oxide copper less reactive than iron B1 | 1 |
Metal displacement reactions can be used to build a reactivity series.
Describe what is seen when iron is added to copper(II) sulfate solution.
Write the ionic equation for the reaction.
Explain why silver does not react with copper(II) sulfate.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | pink/brown solid; blue to green pink/brown copper forms on the iron B1 solution changes from blue to (pale) green B1 | 2 |
| (b) | Fe + Cu²⁺ → Fe²⁺ + Cu Fe + Cu²⁺ → Fe²⁺ + Cu B2 | 2 |
| (c) | silver less reactive silver is less reactive than copper B1 | 1 |
Metals can be placed in a reactivity series by their reactions with water and steam.
Describe the reaction of calcium with cold water.
Write the word equation for the reaction of magnesium with steam.
Explain why aluminium appears less reactive than expected.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | fizzes, forms calcium hydroxide and hydrogen bubbles/fizzes B1 calcium hydroxide and hydrogen form B1 | 2 |
| (b) | magnesium + steam → magnesium oxide + hydrogen magnesium + steam → magnesium oxide + hydrogen B1 | 1 |
| (c) | protective oxide layer it has a protective layer of aluminium oxide B1 | 1 |
The reactivity series includes carbon and hydrogen.
Explain how the position of carbon in the reactivity series is used in extracting metals.
Explain why copper does not react with dilute acids.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | metals below carbon reduced by carbon metals less reactive than carbon (e.g. iron, zinc) can be extracted by heating their oxides with carbon B1 more reactive metals need electrolysis B1 | 2 |
| (b) | below hydrogen copper is below hydrogen in the reactivity series B1 | 1 |
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Meet Riyaz →Original Cambridge-style practice questions written for mentorriyaz.in. These are not Cambridge past paper questions, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Updated 2026-11-04. Paper generator · mentorriyaz.in