IGCSEScienceEdexcelScience (Double Award) (Modular)Chemistry Unit 1Revision Notes2. Inorganic Chemistry: Part 1Reactivity seriesOrder of Reactivity

Order of Reactivity (Edexcel IGCSE Science (Double Award) (Modular)): Revision Note

Exam code: 4XSD1

Stewart Hird

Written by: Stewart Hird

Reviewed by: Philippa Platt

Updated on

Edexcel Science (Double Award) (Modular): Chemistry Unit 1Edexcel Chemistry (Modular): Unit 1Edexcel Science (Double Award): ChemistryEdexcel Chemistry

The reactivity series

Carbon and the reactivity series mnemonic

  • Carbon is an important element and has its own place on the reactivity series

  • Its use in the extraction of metals from their oxides and a more complete reactivity series with an accompanying mnemonic to help you memorise it is below

The reactivity series mnemonic

  • “Please send lions, cats, monkeys and cute zebras into hot countries signed Gordon”

Reactivity series mnemonic table

Metal

Abbreviation

Most reactive

 

Potassium

P - Please

Sodium

S- Send

Lithium

L - Lions

Calcium

C - Cats

Magnesium

M - Monkeys

Aluminium

A - And

Carbon

C - Cute

Zinc

Z - Zebras

Iron

I - Into

Hydrogen

H - Hot

Copper

C - Countries

Silver

S - Signed

Gold

G - Gordon

Least reactive

 

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Reviewer
Stewart Hird

Author: Stewart Hird

Expertise: Chemistry Content Creator

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Topic Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.

Philippa Platt

Reviewer: Philippa Platt

Expertise: Chemistry Content Creator

Philippa has worked as a GCSE and A level chemistry teacher and tutor for over thirteen years. She studied chemistry and sport science at Loughborough University graduating in 2007 having also completed her PGCE in science. Throughout her time as a teacher she was incharge of a boarding house for five years and coached many teams in a variety of sports. When not producing resources with the chemistry team, Philippa enjoys being active outside with her young family and is a very keen gardener