The reactivity series of metals is a list of metals arranged in the decreasing order of their reactivity. For metals, the reactivity is determined by the ease with which they lose electrons and form ions. Potassium is the most reactive metal, while gold is the least reactive metal.
Some non-metals are also included in this list, such as Carbon and Hydrogen.
In GCSE Chemistry, understanding the reactivity series is important as it helps explain the chemical properties of metals, and two non-metals. A good understanding of reactivity series will further help explain why different metals are extracted using different processes of extraction.
